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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Western Heritage Awards

September 17 - 18, 2021

  • Overview
  • 2020 Inductees and Honorees
  • 2021 Honorees
  • Schedule of Events
  • 2021 Sponsorship Packet

Overview

The Western Heritage Awards honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Western heritage through creative works in literature, music, television and film that share the great stories of the American West.

Presented by celebrity hosts, this black-tie event also honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Western heritage with their inductions into the Hall of Great Western Performers and Hall of Great Westerners as well as the presentation of the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Western Heritage committee voted to combine the 2020 show, which had been rescheduled for October 2-3, 2020, with the 2021 show, which is scheduled for September 17 – 18, 2021. Individual tickets go on sale August 2, 2021, sponsorships available now, click here.

2020 Inductees and Honorees

Hall of Great Western Performers
Kurt Russell
Neil Oliver “Bing” Russell (1926-2003)

Hall of Great Westerners
Montford T. Johnson
(1843-1896)
Bennett Richard “Ben” Houston (1929-2016)

Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award
John Scott

Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert Duvall

Special Directors’ Award
Traditional Cowboy Arts Association

2020 Honorees

LITERATURE

Western Novel

The Cheyenne Story: An Interpretation of Courage, written and published by Gerry Robinson

Nonfiction Book

Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power by Pekka Hämäliänen published by Yale University Press

Art/Photography Book

Don Weller Tracks, by Don Weller, published by Weller Institute for the Cure of Design

Juvenile Book

J is for Jackalope by Teal Blake.

Magazine Article

“If You had Fought Bravely I would have Sung for You” The Changing Roles of Cheyenne Women During Nineteenth-Century Plains Warfare, by David Beyreis, published Montana The Magazine of Western History

Poetry Book

We Make a Tiny Herd: Poems to Honor the Burro Lady of Far West Texas by Lucy Griffith, published by Main Street Rag

MUSIC

Original Western Composition

“Hats Off to the Cowboy” recording artist Red Steagall, composed by Red Steagall and Joe Merrick

Traditional Western Album

Shadow of a Cowboy, recording artist Andy Hedges

 New Horizon

“Desert Dwelling Mama” recording artist Adrian Brannan, produced by Craig Schumacher

FILM & TELEVISION HONOREES

Western Lifestyle Program

Cow Town, produced by Robert Burch at OETA

Theatrical Motion Picture

Deadwood: The Movie starring Timothy Olyphant, directed by Daniel Minahan, produced by HBO

Documentary

Country Music, directed by Ken Burns, written by Dayton Duncan, and produced by Duncan, Burns and Julie Dunfey

Fictional Drama

“Touching Your Enemy” Yellowstone S2, E5 starring Kevin Costner, written by Taylor Sheridan

2021 Honorees

 

LITERATURE

 

Western Novel

The King of Taos: A Novel by the late Max Evans, published by the University of New Mexico Press

Nonfiction Book

Sand Creek and the Tragic End of a Lifeway by Louis Kraft, published by the University of Oklahoma Press

Art/Photography Book

Making a Hand: The Art of H.D. Bugbee by Michael Grauer, published by Texas A&M University Press

Juvenile Book

Silverbelly: The Adventures of Wilder Good by S.J. Dahlstrom, published by Paul Dry Books

Magazine Article

“Transitions in the Changing West: The Photographic Legacy of Jessamine Spear Johnson,” by Tempe J. Javitz, published in Montana: The Magazine of Western History by the Montana Historical Society

Poetry Book

Second Wind by Patricia Frolander, published by High Plains Press

MUSIC

Original Western Composition

“El Caballo del Fuego” recording artist, Doug Figgs/The Cowboy Way, composed by Doug Figgs, Floyd Beard, Mariam Funke

Traditional Western Album

A Place to Land, recording artist Kristyn Harris, produced by Aaron Meador

FILM & TELEVISION HONOREES

Western Lifestyle Program

Today’s Wild West, E307 produced by Mark Bedor at Today’s Wild West LLC

Theatrical Motion Picture

News of the World, starring Tom Hanks, produced by Universal Pictures

Documentary

Charlie Russell’s Old West by coproducer and director Gus Chambers and writer and coproducer Paul Zalis at MontanaPBS

Fictional Drama

“I Killed a Man Today” Yellowstone S3, E8 starring Kevin Costner, written by Taylor Sheridan

 

Inductee announcement coming soon.

Schedule of Events

Western Heritage Awards Luncheon *NEW THIS YEAR*

Honors individuals in the literature and music categories.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
Western or business attire
11:30 a.m. | Lunch Service
12:00 p.m. | Western Heritage Awards Ceremony

Western Heritage Cocktail Reception

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
Western or business attire
5:30 p.m. | Cocktail Reception | Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
6:00 p.m. | Autograph Session with Honorees

Western Heritage Awards Induction Ceremony

Formal induction ceremony as well as presentation of the
Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Directors’ Choice and television and film.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021
Western black-tie optional
5:00 p.m. | Cocktail Hour
6:00 p.m. | Western Heritage Induction Ceremony

2021 Sponsorship Packet

Supporting Sponsors

arvest_logo_webseallogo_color_web-2compellier_logo-2

Promoting Sponsors

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Heritage Sponsors

Annie Oakley Society by Lynn Friess, Cathy Keating and Judy Hatfield

Mr. Skylar Houston

Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Jacques

Mr. Greg Kowalski

ocv

Round Up Riders of the Rockies

simmons-bank-logo-vector

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Simons

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Inductee Sponsors

Calgary Stampede

Mr. Brent Cummings

Mr. Robert A. Funk

Nadine and Alan Levin

Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt McCrea

Mr. Bobby Norris

National Western Stock Show

Find the Museum
  • 1700 Northeast 63rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
  • (405) 478-2250
  • info@nationalcowboymuseum.org
Hours
Monday - Saturday10:00 AM — 5:00 PM
Sunday12:00 PM — 5:00 PM
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Adventure District
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Adventure Road
  • Visit
    • Virtual Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Tours
    • The Museum Grill
    • Become a Member
  • Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Annie Oakley Society Luncheon
    • Annual Chuck Wagon Festival
    • Cowboy Christmas Ball
    • Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale
    • Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition & Sale
    • Rodeo Hall of Fame
    • Small Works, Great Wonders
    • Western Heritage Awards
    • Corporate and Private Events
  • Exhibitions
  • Collections
    • Collection Highlights
    • Liichokoshkomo’
    • Galleries
    • Dickinson Research Center
    • Awards & Halls of Fame
  • Learn
    • Blog
    • Projects for Home
    • School Programs & Tours
    • Teacher Resources
    • Stacey Scholarship Fund
  • About
    • About the Museum
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    • Careers
    • Media
  • Give/Get Involved
    • Donate to the Museum
    • Donation Request
    • Memberships
    • Volunteer
    • Annie Oakley Society
    • Rodeo Historical Society
    • Prix de West Society
  • Store
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