Clem Rogers McSpadden

Funeral service for Clem Rogers McSpadden will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 12, at Clem McSpadden Bushyhead Ranch with Rev. Ann Wassom officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Chelsea Cemetery under the direction of Chelsea Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be held at the Chelsea Funeral Home Thursday 1-7 p.m., the Oklahoma State Capitol Rotunda Friday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service, Claremore 4-7 p.m.Clem died Monday, July 7, 2008, at M.D. Anderson, Houston, Texas, at the age of 82.Clem, the son of Herbert T. and Madalyn (Pope) McSpadden was born Nov. 9, 1925, at the family ranch in the Bushyhead community, south of Chelsea. He was the oldest of the three sons born to the Herb McSpadden’s. Clem was named for his great grandfather Clement Vann Rogers for whom Rogers County is named. He attended 12 years of school at Oologah and following graduation enrolled at Oklahoma A and M College, Stillwater, OK.. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II from 1944-46 where he attained the rank of Lieutenant.(jg). Clem attended the University of Texas and and Redlands University in California while in military service. He returned to Oklahoma A and M earning a degree in Animal Science in 1948. While at Oklahoma A and M, he became a founding member of the A and M Aggie Rodeo Club. In 1947, he began a successful rodeo career as both a contestant in roping and bulldogging, and that same year started his career as one of the nation’s premiere professional rodeo announcers In 1965 he was named General Manager of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for 18 years. He served as general manger of the Old Timers Rodeo and Indian National Finals Rodeo. He served as announcer for the the NFR and worked as announcer for ABC television’s “Wild World of Sports” as well as announcing rodeo events on The Nashville Network (TNN). He appeared in movies including, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” and “J.W.Coop”.McSpadden was a well known speaker, and author of “The Cowboy’s Prayer” and “If Our Flag Could Talk.” His career as professional rodeo announcer has taken him throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii. rodeos He was selected to announce the 1988 Calgary Olympics ‘challenge cup’ rodeo, and in 1983 was selected to do the opening of Presidential Performance rodeo in Washington, D.C. for President Ronald Reagan.Clem, Donna, and Bart operated the ‘Bushyhead Tub-Handle ranch located south of Chelsea. McSpadden started the “World’s Richest Roping” in 1975 with the nations top ropers. In 1983, he implemented the idea at Bushyhead of pasture roping which has been ongoing. Dates for the ‘Clem McSpadden Memorial Bushyhead Labor Day Pasture Roping are August 31 and September 1. Clem was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1954, serving until 1972. In 1968, he became the youngest Senator in Oklahoma’s history to be elected President Pro Tempore. Clem considered some of his most important votes cast as the vote to create rural water districts, establishing bilingual tests for Oklahoma Drivers License, authoring creation of Green Country Tourism and getting lake access roads built within our area. He was electedfrom Oklahoma’s Second District to the the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972-74 and became the first first-term Congressman in U.S. history to be named to the prestigious Rules Committee. He co-authored creation of the rural caucus, a voice for rural people and agriculture as a whole, which continues to be a stronghold. He was designated to tour the NATO countries as Congressional delegate. Clem was also Executive Manager of the Oklahoma Mining and Reclamation Association for Oklahoma.In 1985, a portion of State Highway 66 between Claremore and Bushyhead was designated Clem McSpadden Highway. On Aug. 9, 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law designating the Post Office building located in Chelsea as the “Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building, authored by Congressman Dan Boren. McSpadden was named recipient of the prestigious Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City,this year, and had been recognized recently by the Claremore Progress as recipient of the first ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.He was a well known voice on TV and radio commercials.On February 11, 1962, Clem married Donna Casity They made their home in Chelsea, except for their homes-away-from-home in Oklahoma City and in McLean, Va., when he was serving in government posts.Clem and his son, Bart, were partners in the McSpadden and Associates Governmental Relations Firm, OKC. and completing that roster are Jami Longacre, James McSpadden, and Kristi Allison in the Oklahoma City office, and Donna McSpadden and Brenda DeLozier in the Chelsea office.His various other careers include ranching, banking, insurance and real estate. Clem and Donna created scholarships for area students in researching history. He was a major force in the creation and building of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Awards in Oklahoma City and has volunteered as master of ceremonies annually.Clem was named Man of the Year by the the Claremore Chamber of Commerce; was active in 4-H, serving as Rogers County 4-H president; showed at the American Royal in Kansas City; and taught veterans at Nowata following his graduation from OSU. He is listed in “Who’s Who in the Southwest”. Clem headed the exchange program, Partners of the Alliance between Oklahoma and Mexico.Clem is preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Bob and Trent McSpadden.Survivors include his wife, Donna of the home; their son Bart McSpadden and wife, Kate,and grandchildren Noah, Chloe, Tucker, and Luke of Edmond; his son Paul McSpadden and wife, Connie; and sons James and John, Richardson, Texas; his daughter, Kay Lucas and her husband, Joe;Edmond, Ok sisters-in-law, Jeanne McSpadden, Vinita and Leota McSpadden, Chelsea; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Norma and Monte Summy, Pryor, and numerous nieces and nephews.You may honor Clem’s life by making a memorial contribution to Clem McSpadden Endowed Scholarship, OSU Foundation, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076.View Clem’s online tribute and sign his memory book at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com.