Ron Long, raised on a working ranch near Garden City, Kansas, is the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame's Cowboy Entertainer Inductee for 2003.
Long, born in 1925, spent most of his youth helping his family raise and break horses for the Army. After serving in World War II, Ron returned to Kansas and began a career as a professional cowboy, while competing in rodeo rough stock events. After marrying, Ron left the rodeo circuit to provide a stable income for his new family. However, Ron's love of rodeo and dedication the "Cowboy Way" continued to influence his way of life.
Ron, along with other cowboys, brought rodeo to Dodge City; thereby creating the Dodge City Roundup and building three separate rodeo arenas. He has served as president for the Dodge City Roundup, Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of Dodge City Days. Ron assisted Dodge City in establishing the Cowboy Invitational Golf Tournament for those wanting to support the cowboy lifestyle in other ways than rodeo.
Rounding off his devotion to being a cowboy, Ron continues to be a member of the Texas Longhorn Breeders of America, which works to celebrate the history and legend of the American Cowboy.
