Justin Lofton Staff Writer
Ada Evening News
Ada —
A monument to commemorate Ken Lance was placed at the 3-Crosses/Ken Lance Arena in April in preparation for the second annual Ken Lance Memorial Rodeo.
The monument stone was part of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and serves to remind viewers of the Ken Lance Arena’s history under the leadership of Lance and his wife, Ruth Lance-Wester.
Lance-Wester said she and Lance originally purchased the arena in Union Valley in 1964 with a loan from her father, L. L. Whitlock.
“We built this arena in about six weeks and four hours before show time we got the last walls up,” Lance-Wester said.
She said traffic was backed up to the highway the first night it was open. The Ken Lance Arena became a landmark in the Ada Area.
Several country music stars have played the arena, including Tim Holt, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Hank Thompson, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell and George Straight.
Several big-name cowboys also appeared at the arena.
“Jim Shoulders, 16-time World Champion Cowboy, was the stock contractor for our rodeo for many years,” she said.
Lance-Wester and her sister, June Proctor, wrote “Ropin’ the Dream: the Story of the Ken Lance Sports Arena, 1964-1994” to chronicle the Arena’s history.
“It was endorsed by Reba McEntire,” Lance-Wester said. “She put on the book, ‘I would not be doing what I am doing today if I had not met Ken Lance.’”
She said the book was also endorsed by Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, as Lance was a Chickasaw Indian. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame in 1998.
“He was very proud of his Chickasaw heritage,” she said.
The first PRCA rodeo held at the Ken Lance Arena was in 1974. The last rodeo Lance held was in 1993. A tribute was held for Lance in 1994 by Ada residents.
“Ken Lance died in 2006 and we had over 1,000 people at his funeral,” she said.
The 3-Crosses/Ken Lance Arena will be holding the second annual PRCA Ken Lance Memorial Rodeo May 12, 13 and 14.
“Last year was our first (memorial rodeo),” Lance-Wester said. She said the bleachers are covered on both sides this year. Lance-Wester is still involved at the arena, sitting on the board of directors.
Tickets are available for $10 in advance at Steppin’ Out in Ada or may be purchased at the Gospel Station website (www.thegospelstation.com). Tickets may also be purchased at the gate for $15.
Funds from the rodeo go toward a Bible and rodeo camp in June.
“It’s going to be first-class family entertainment at its best,” Lance-Wester said. “That’s the kind of rodeo Ken Lance always had and these people want to do the same thing.”
