Tony Churchill became a Golden Spur Award recipient in 2015. He was selected for this very special honor due to his many volunteer contributions to the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association. These volunteer contributions covered a span of decades and his loyal dedication to the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association continues to this day.
Tony has served on a mixture of volunteer committees and has been a long-term member of the Board of Directors and also held the prestigious leadership position of President of the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association.
Although Tony has been instrumental in a wide variety of areas within the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association, his premier contribution has been in his service to the Roping Fiesta Committee.
Tony served, faithfully, as a member of this committee for a considerable length of time and eventually claimed the position of Chairman. Tony was a perfect fit for this committee due to his experience as a contestant in roping events. He knew from experience what it took to structure and produce a superior roping event. And, with his keen wisdom and business sense, he also knew how to package the San Angelo Roping Fiesta and develop it into one of the most premiere roping events in the Nation.
Tony continues to be a strong force in the San Angelo Roping Fiesta and is constantly thinking of ways to improve this event that has existed for over half of a century.
Past Winners
2001
Brian May
2002
Gary Hodges
2003
Richard Albert
2004
Chris Dublin
2005
Raymond Taylor, Sr.
2006
X.B. Cox, Jr.
2007
John Dublin
2008
Kermit Wendland
2009
Cynthia Wittenburg
2010
Ervin Schwartz, Jr.
2011
Matt Matthews
2012
Fred Ball
2013
No Award
2014
Jerry Bunyard
2015
Tony Churchill
2016
Beverly Gay
2017
Joe Collins
About The Gold Spur
The Gold Spur award began in 2001 and is noted for its story and history with San Angelo’s own Holland Jewelry Co. It is presented annually to an outstanding volunteer who has given of his or her time beyond the call of duty during the annual stock show and rodeo and the other events hosted by the association.
The selection committee has one of the most difficult tasks of the association. It must identify a candidate, out of nearly 1,000 people, that all share the same passion for the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. This deed is put on the shoulders of the Association’s best people. Any organizations best asset has always been its team and the Association’s team is as strong as ever in its 86th year.
Out of all the recognition given, this one earns the greatest appreciation from the peers of the award winner. It’s the Golden Spur award, and the award comes from Holland Jewelers with the reputation for “earning one’s spurs”. Dating back to 1936, with the country emerging from the difficult years of the Great Depression, Mr. Holland designed a miniature sterling silver spur tie clasp as a symbol of recognition, given to someone who had “earned his spurs.” Two of these first “spurs clips” were presented to President Franklin Roosevelt and Vice-President John Nance Garner.
The award recipient and the reputation of the Golden Spur go hand in hand. The previous winners of the award are a who’s who among San Angelo’s best. The bearer of this award is one of the best you will ever meet, and has “earned his spurs” making the organization you see today, one of the nation’s best.
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