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National Rodeo Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2012
Pete Fredericks

Pete Fredericks

1936

North Dakota

EVENTS
Saddle Bronc Rider
Bareback Bronc Rider
Steer Wrestler

Native American Pete Fredericks was born in 1936 at Elbowoods on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. He commenced arena competition during high school and was an outstanding participant in intercollegiate rodeo, helping in 1958 to initiate the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) program at Dickinson State Teachers College.

Fredericks competed professionally all over the western United States, taking numerous bareback, saddle-bronc, and all-around championships at important venues such as Deadwood, San Antonio, Omaha, Albuquerque, Nampa, Springdale, and Ardmore in the early 1960s. He won the bareback title three years running (1961-1963) at Albuquerque, and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1961, 1962 and 1964. He also was the first contender to successfully ride RCA Bucking Horses of the Year, Silver King and Necklace.

In 1976 Pete Fredericks was an instrumental, founding member of the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) Commission, on which he served for many years. Long retired from the arena, Fredericks operates a successful cattle ranch at Twin Buttes, North Dakota.

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