Carvel "Kurly" Hebb, 2006 Rodeo Cowboy (Biography)

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This was taken from http://www.boothill.org/hof_hebb.html

KANSAS COWBOY HALL OF FAME

Carvel "Kurly" Hebb, 2006 Rodeo Cowboy

"I never wanted to be anything but a Cowboy and live the cowboy way of life"


Carvel "Kurly" Hebb was born on January 16, 1934 to Manley and Letha Hebb in Howard, Kansas and raised on the family ranch in nearby Fall River.  He learned to ride horses at the age of four and rode his Shetland pony "Tody" two miles each way to a one room school house, Kurly recalls.  'Tody and I went a lot of miles together, and we got there by and by."

In 1956 Kurly joined the RCA rodeo circuit in Strong City, Kansas.  There he won the bronc riding, bull riding and all around.  In 1972 he again won the saddle bronc riding at Strong City, a place Kurly has special feelings about.  "Strong City has always been my favorite rodeo, it was always like coming back home."

Qualifying five times for the National Finals Rodeo in the 1960s, he won saddle bronco riding titles at many venues including Phillipsburg, Kansas; Sikeston, Missouri; Montgomery, Alabama; and Toronto, Canada.

About the time he qualified for his last Nationals he married his wife Nita Ann and started his family.

Kurly is not only a rodeo cowboy, but a cattleman.  He purchased his own ranch near Fall River in 1961 and one in Texas in 1968.  He was an innovative force in the cattle industry, importing the first Chianina heifer from Italy into the United States in 1974. This heifer went on to produce the first full blooded Chianina calf in the United States.

Kurly is currently a Gold Card member of the PRCA.  He divides his time between his two ranches with his wife, daughter Kanzi and son Wade.  He runs several thoroughbred race horses and enjoys deer hunting in the Flint Hills.