Skip to content

The Museum will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 for an event.

Tad Lucas Award
Awarded in 2007
Berva Dawn Taylor

Berva Dawn Taylor

1929-2013

Idaho

Born in 1929 at Salmon, Idaho, Berva Dawn (Sorenson) Taylor was raised in the culture of the Flying U Rodeo Company, which was founded by her father, J.C. “Doc” Sorenson. She rode in her first grand entry parade at age four, and, during World War II, she and her sister rode as arena pick-up “men” for Flying U productions.

 

In 1949 and 1950 Berva Dawn served as a sponsor girl at the Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden rodeos. An attractive fashion plate, she modeled for Don Hoy Hat Company and Blue Bell Wrangler. Her career as a rodeo secretary began with her marriage to calf-roper Dan Taylor, of Doole, Texas, in 1952. Over the years, she kept the books for producers like Jim Shoulders, Billy Minick, and Harry Vold, and was active with the Girls Rodeo Association as well.

 

From 1984 to 1999 Berva Dawn secretaries and timed either or both the National Finals Steer Roping and the Timed Event Championships at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. She was inducted into the Rodeo Heritage Museum at Dublin, Texas, in 2005 and the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2006. For her more than seventy years of dedication as a rodeo cowgirl and horsewoman, Berva Dawn Taylor was awarded the 2007 Tad Lucas Memorial Award by the Rodeo Historical Society.

More to Explore

Stay Connected

Sign up for our e-newsletter