It’s been a decade since Lu Vason’ passing. It’s also been that long since the proverbial torch – his life legacy – passed to Valeria Howard-Cunningham, his widow. Founder and creator of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR), his death momentarily brought that legacy to a standstill; paused at a crossroads as his absence left the rodeo’s future in limbo with the possibility that it could pass along with him. 

Fate decided that Vason’s efforts wouldn’t reside in a distant past or be regarded as impressive but passé. 

Howard-Cunningham assumed her late husband’s position at the rodeo’s helm, ensuring that his vision would outlive him. She wasn’t content to let his legacy become a historical curiosity. 

In 2022, she shared that people “begged and pleaded that we keep the legacy going.” Stepping into the boots of her late legendary husband was a daunting task, but she grabbed the bull by the horns and set out on the path to expand BPIR’s reach and influence.

With the July publication of Vason’s biography, “Under the Western Skies: Lu Vason, From Dreamer to Visionary to Pioneer,” the story of the late promotor’s conquests is finally etched in history. 

Carrying the Legacy Forward 

The magic of Vason’s legacy surpasses his leadership of BPIR. 

Howard-Cunningham has worked long and hard to exalt his memory through the publishing of his life exploits. After two successive writers attempted to write the story, but “didn’t catch the flavor” or meet her expectations, she postponed rather than discard the plan. 

“It took 10 years to get this book done,” she explains, pointing out that Vason’s death and the initial idea of his biography occurred within the same year. 

“When Lu passed, the rodeo was not my passion. I didn’t know what I was going to do.” 

While Howard-Cunningham initially balked at assuming the reins of an ongoing BPIR, there wasn’t any indecision about figuratively putting pen to paper to share her late husband’s experiences. She wanted to do more than keep his memory alive – she desired to keep his spirit present. 

A Lasting Dream

Vason possessed an preternatural ability to inspire others to overcome adversity and overwhelming odds, which is arguably the greatest legacy (and spirit) of both the man and the rodeo. 

Though, Howard-Cunningham, who knew him best, shares, “Nobody’s life is perfect.” 

Vason’s life story reads like a roller coaster, shooting sky high before plummeting into assorted abysses with occasional spirals and swerves, only to resume a steady climb. The inevitable dips delayed progress along his journey, but never delayed the dream. 

The example he set for young Black participants in BPIR mimicked his own ability to realize and reach for his dream. He devoted his time and energy to the participants with an unwavering dedication to helping them believe in their ability to fulfill dreams of their own.

Brutal and a Blessing

When Howard-Cunningham decided to continue BPIR in a leadership role after Vason’s death, she entered what she called “a White man’s world.” 

Her predecessor had succeeded in creating a niche for professional Black cowboys and cowgirls on the rodeo circuit, but as a black female, she was pushing the envelope. 

“Was I scared? Absolutely,” she recalls. 

“Did I know the challenges involved? Absolutely.” 

Today, BPIR is bigger than ever with a demanding schedule that Howard-Cunningham describes as both “brutal” and a “blessing.”

An Enduring Salute

With Vason not physically present, the task of writing his biography required more than a ghost writer. It demanded an awareness and appreciation of the complexities riddled throughout his life. 

Though earlier attempts were frustrating, eventually the cliché, “third time’s a charm” rang true, and tenacity triumphed. When stepson Anton Cunningham started writing the book, the first chapter hooked BPIR’s matriarch. 

“I could not believe it! He had captured the person of Lu Vason,” she exclaims, adding that the public reception has been equally enthusiastic. 

She says that before Vason’s death, she promised him that his story – which he had started – would be finished and published. “I am a woman of my word,” she states. “We got it done and I’m sure he would be very proud of the outcome.” 

Now with the goal accomplished, Howard-Cunningham embraces the laurels with very little time to recover or rest. She’s intent on spreading the message that runs through both the pages of the book and the events of the rodeo, highlighting details about the man, Lu Vason, and his life and impact.

“Nobody’s life is perfect,” she stresses. “Don’t let anybody talk you out of your dream. Work and make it happen… stay focused on what’s important to you.” 

A Forever Fight

Nearly 20 years ago, Vason shared his thoughts about succeeding in what once seemed a fantasy. 

Despite positioning Black presence at the forefront of frontier culture through BPIR’s success, the article explained that “one gets the impression that Vason won’t be satisfied until Bill Pickett and his compadres’ present in Western folklore are recognized as easily to audiences as are the celluloid images of Roy Rogers and Wyatt Earp.” 

Two decades later, there’s an inherent irony. 

While Bill Pickett remains in the shadows of Hollywood luminaries like John Wayne and Gene Autry, it may be Vason – rather than Pickett – who emerges as the cinematic barrier breaker.

Acclaimed actor Glynn Turman, who was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been part of BPIR for over 39 years, wrote the introduction to Vason’s biography. The former rodeo contestant appeared at many BPIR events and when mentioned that he may take interest in a Hollywood production, Howard-Cunningham responds that she’s already “exploring opportunities to do a miniseries or movie around the book.” 

Over four decades have passed since BPIR’s debut in 1984; in that time, there have been generations of dreams fulfilled through the event. Howard-Cunningham wants Vason’s story to inspire others to accomplish their dreams despite their doubts.  

Vason’s spirit is still present in the ambitions of people spanning generations and continents. Now, courtesy of the efforts of Howard-Cunningham and writer Anton Cunningham, his story is finally and fully told.

Editor’s note: “Under the Western Skies” is available for purchase at major retailers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.