2025 Inductees

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B O O T H I L L M U S E U M

Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame

2025 Inductees

Frankie J. Buchman

2025
Cowboy Historian

Frankie J. Buchman was born January 19, 1951 in Council Grove, Kansas to Clarence E. and Laura Mae Buchman. Frankie grew up working in Buchman's Grocery Store riding his stick horse, attired in cowboy hat and boots with toy six guns at his side, wishing for a real horse. In the 6th grade he got his first real horse and was active in saddle club and 4-H. He graduated from Council Grove High School in 1969. After high school he attended Kansas State University where he graduated with a degree in agriculture education in 1972. While at Kansas State he met Margaret Mary Gronau. They were married on August 21, 1971, in Newton, Kansas and have two children, Tyson and Jennie. After college they settled on their current ranch near Alta Vista, Kansas where they started a ranching operation. Frankie was hired in December 1972 to be the editor, photographer and advertising salesman for the Grass & Grain newspaper where he worked for over thirty-six years. He trained outside horses while growing a beef cow/calf herd and broodmare horse
operation. The family had 25 horse production sales, hosted over 23 livestock judging field days and initiated the State FFA Horse Judging Contest. Frankie was a member of and officer in the Eastern Kansas Horsman’s Association (EKHA), the North East Kansas Small Area Group (NEKSAG), the Kansas Western Horsman’s Association (KWHA), the Kansas State Horse Show Circuit (KSHSC), and the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA). He composed a syndicated spiritual reflections column “A Cowboy’s Faith” published weekly. He also wrote thousands of published columns titled “For the Love of Horses” reflecting his love of horses, cowboys, the horse industry, and cowboy way of life. Frankie was a dedicated member of several Morris County organizations including the county 4-H Foundation, county fair board, and the youth rodeo association. Frankie J. Buchman passed away on December 13, 2024.

Diamond W Wranglers

2025
Cowboy Entertainer

Since 1999, the Diamond W Wranglers have shared and introduced cowboy music to audiences around the world. First known as the Prairie Rose Wranglers, the original members were Stu Stuart, Orin Friesen, Jim Farrell. They performed concerts and served a chuckwagon meal at the Prairie Rose Ranch near Benton, Kansas. In 2003, they were joined by Steve Crawford on drums and percussion. In 2003-2004 they performed two sold-out shows at New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 2006 at the request of the Ministry of Culture for the People’s Republic of China, the Prairie Rose Wranglers along with special guests Rex Allen Jr. and Johnny Western played concerts in Beijing and Shanghai. They also performed the first concert on the Great Wall of China. After the Prairie Rose closed in 2007, they moved to Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, Kansas and were renamed the Diamond W Wranglers. Tenor singer Chip Worthington joined them in 2009, replacing Orin Friesen on bass. In 2010, the group performed in front of thousands of Europeans at the Americana Festival in Germany. The Diamond W ended their chuckwagon dinner show in 2014, continuing to perform concerts around the region. They returned to the Prairie Rose on a regular basis in 2017. Chip Worthington left the group in 2019, and Orin Friesen returned. In 2021 guitarist Jim Hill joined the group for one year, and drummer Steve Crawford left for a job in Texas. Original member Jim Farrell passed away in 2022. Jesse Friesen then joined original members Orin Friesen and Stu Stuart to make the group a trio again. In their 26 years the Wranglers have recorded 19 CDs and have performed with many great western performers
including Rex Allen Jr., Riders in the Sky, Roy Rogers Jr., Michael Martin Murphey, and Red
Steagall. Their original songs have contributed greatly to the legacy of cowboy music in Kansas.

Winter Family

2025
Rancher/Cattleman

The Winter Family can trace its Kansas roots to 1887 when Henry Winter left his Iowa home in search of land. He brought his springboard wagon to rest by Pawnee Creek in Finney County, Kansas where he built a sod home on what was soon to be known as Winter Ranch. Henry filed his claim on January 18, 1888, and immediately sent for his wife Kate and three children to join him at their new home. On April 21, 1889, a fourth child, Karl Mark Winter was born to Henry and Kate. As a youngster Karl saw great herds of cattle trailed in from the south. Some were driven across the eastern corner of the Winter Ranch to water at the Pawnee Creek. It was a great source of entertainment for young Karl and his brothers to ride alongside the drovers and marvel at the herds. Karl farmed and ranched alongside his father until age 21, when he took over the ranch. In Karl’s capable hands the ranch increased in size many times over. The brown-eyed
neighbor girl who won young Karl Winter’s heart was Gladys Brown, whose parents had come from Cherokee County, Kansas. After marrying in 1914, Gladys and Karl ranched on his home place. They were the parents of three sons: Ralph, Ross and Ray. In 1936, Karl and his family moved to Dodge City because of Gladys’ failing health. That year, Karl purchased the livestock auction facilities in Dodge City from J.C. Renner and leased the adjoining Santa Fe stockyards used in the heyday of the cattle drives. Gladys’ illness brought about her death in 1936. In 1942 Karl married Grace Bayless. Together they made a home for his sons and their daughter, Phyllis. Winter Livestock Commission Company was the name of Karl’s new enterprise. In the years to come the business grew at a steady pace. Winter Livestock Inc. acquired the La Junta, Colorado sale facility in 1940 in effort to further serve the farmer, rancher and cattleman. Sixteen years later Karl and Ross Winter built Winter Feed Yard. In effort to further serve the cattleman, Ray Winter
expanded the family business to Enid, Oklahoma. In 1993, construction of a new sale pavilion was
completed in Enid, Oklahoma. Brian & Darci Winter and Mark & Katrena Winter turned their internet marketing services into a broadcasting company known as CattleUSA.com. Winter Livestock added the Riverton Livestock Auction in Riverton, Wyoming in 2005 and the Pratt Livestock Auction of Pratt, Kansas in 2009. In 2024, fourth generation Winter Family members, Mason Winter, Baron Winter, Grace Winter, and Jeff and Whitney Smith added Farmers and Ranchers Livestock in Salina, Kansas and in 2025 Reno County Stockyards in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Wacey Munsell

2025
Rodeo Cowboy

Wacey Munsell was born October 15, 1986, in Liberal, Kansas to Doug Munsell, Jr. and Lorrie Munsell. Fighting bulls is in Wacey’s DNA. His grandfather, Doug, started the rodeo wildmen tradition and passed it along to his children, Doug Jr. and Danny, who passed it along to Wacey. In 2004, he was the youngest ever to be allowed on the TwoBulls Protection Tour and the World Championship Rodeo Bullfighting tour, finishing as the world champion, and earning the gold buckle just eight days after his 18th birthday. He repeated his title again in 2006. During the same season (2004) Wacey won the National Finals Rodeo's Bucking Stock Sale and he was approved for his PRCA card. In 2005 and 2006, he won the freestyle bullfighting National Championship when it was associated with the PBR World Finals. Wacey has also won the California Rodeo-Salinas freestyle championship in 2005 and 2006. "I was 13 the first time I ever got in front of a big bull," Munsell said. "I just really enjoy the rush and the feeling I get when I save a cowboy. It's what I'm best at in life, so it's why I do it." Wacey understands the intricacies it takes to be a quality bullfighter, whether it's in the freestyle pen or protecting fallen bull riders. Wacey has been voted six times as one of the top five bullfighters chosen to be considered for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. He was nominated twice as a finalist for the PRCA Bullfighter of the Year award in 2019 and 2020. He has worked the PRCA Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo 10 times. He has worked the National High School Finals Rodeo four times. He and bullfighting partner and fellow Kansan, Sam Gress, were the 2007 Daisy Protection Tour World Champions. They were judged on their abilities to protect bull riders at several events and their finals. He has worked many major rodeos in the PRCA including Denver, Colorado, Tucson, Arizona, Austin, Texas, Gladewater, Texas, North Platte, Nebraska, Greeley, Colorado, Dodge City, Kansas, Lawton, Oklahoma, Pueblo, Colorado, Elk City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Omaha, Nebraska. In December 2018, a dream came true as he was called to work nine performances of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. With over twenty years’ experience as a professional bullfighter, he is one of the top performers in the game.

Ron Ruller

2025
Working Cowboy

Ron Roller was born on November 18, 1956, in Germany to Richard and Erika Roller. As the child of a military family, Ron spent his early years moving from base to base. Among his favorite memories were visits to his grandparents’ farm in Indiana and the family’s two tours at Fort Riley in the heart of Kansas’ Flint Hills region. He loved life in the Flint Hills, working on farms, caring for horses, and spending weekends with his family at Old Abilene Town. When his father retired from the military and returned to Indiana, Ron chose to stay in Woodbine, Kansas, to complete his education at Hope High School. After graduation, he became the general manager of the Woodbine Farmers Union Co-op, a position he held for nearly fifteen years. On August 15, 1981, Ron married MarySue Davis in Manhattan, Kansas. Together, they have two daughters, Julie Roller Weeks and Lindsey Roller Pannbacker. After leaving the Co-op, Ron became the farm manager for the Kansas 4-H Foundation at Rock Springs Ranch, where he purchased and trained horses and led the summer wrangler program. He later served as Equestrian Trainer for the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard at Fort Riley for seventeen years. In that role, he provided leadership and continuity for the unit, guiding soldiers in horsemanship and representing Kansas at events such as the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals in Las Vegas and multiple inaugural parades in Washington, D.C. Ron also operated Triple “R” Carriage Service, offering horse-drawn carriage rides for weddings, holidays, and special events across Kansas. He continues to manage his wife’s Kansas Farm Bureau Century Farm in Pottawatomie County. In addition to his equestrian work, Ron has served his community as a Woodbine City Councilmember, Mayor, and Dickinson County Commissioner. His dedication to agriculture, rural development, and youth programs has left a lasting mark on the region. Known for his storytelling, humor, and easygoing cowboy spirit, Ron brings warmth and laughter wherever he goes, whether on horseback, behind the reins, or around the table swapping stories with friends. His life’s work reflects a deep commitment to preserving Kansas’ cowboy heritage and passing it on to future generations.