“Absolutely the Best Time Ever.”
“It’s a wonderful family to belong to.”
“What an extraordinary celebration of creativity, talent, and the rich heritage of the American West!”
The messages arriving after this past weekend’s Will Rogers Medallion Award program have brought smiles, a few happy tears, and a welcome reminder of why we do this work.
Authors, filmmakers, poets, musicians, publishers, and sponsors are sharing stories of friendships formed, memorable conversations, and the joy of having their work recognized among people who understand the dedication behind it. Poet KC LaCourse called our community “a wonderful family to belong to.” That sentiment runs through so many of the responses.
We were honored to celebrate Lifetime Achievement recipients Barry Corbin and Bruce Boxleitner, Golden Lariat recipient Clint Black, and the remarkable talents of Dean Butler, Peter Billingsley, and our fellow medallion winners. Music producer Merel Bregante reminded us how much recognition matters to those working “on the other side of the glass.” Every story, film, book, and song represents people whose contributions deserve to be remembered.
From the gatherings at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum to the writing sessions and awards banquet in Tulsa, this was a celebration of the people keeping Western storytelling alive and welcoming others into its future.
My heartfelt thanks to WRMA board members Laurie Cockerell, Jennifer Rogers, Tad Jones, Chris Mullen, Reavis Wortham, Harriet and Preston Lewis, Shane Clouse, Joni Franks, Bill Markley, our volunteers, sponsors, museum partners, and everyone who joined us. Your generosity and hard work made these experiences possible.
Congratulations to every honoree. Thank you for giving us so much to celebrate and for carrying the stories and spirit of the West forward.
Happy trails until we gather again!
