Induction Ceremony 10/1/2024
Freddie Waltz wasn’t raised in an area that typically produces cowboys. Tiny Wapakoneta, OH isn’t a hotbed of rodeo activity; however Freddie did compete during high school in Bareback Riding and as a Bullfighter. He enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1970 serving as a Counterintelligence (CI) Specialist where he spent three years as part of the Viet Nam Peace Talks and the SALT Talks. One of his last assignments was team chief of the CI team entering Kuwait at the beginning of Operation Desert Shield in 1990.
Freddie first became involved in military rodeo in 1981 while stationed at Marine Corp Air Station Tustin, CA where he helped establish the rodeo team. He coached the Bareback Riders and worked as a Bullfighter at military rodeos. He fought bulls and did barrel man duty at Del Mar, CA, Camp Pendleton, CA, 29 Palms, CA and many open rodeos. Freddie was selected to fight bulls at the 1982 and 1983 military world championship rodeos in Yuma, AZ where they had over 100 bull riders entered. In 1984 he attended two Skipper Voss bullfighting schools and was able to get his PRCA card.
While continuing to work military rodeos, Freddie worked a full slate of PRCA rodeos throughout the western states and was ranked in the PRCA’s top 10 “Man in the Can” for his barrel work. He entertained crowds at many rodeos with his popular Rollskinhardy Ambulance Service and the Worlds Smartest Dog acts.
When MSgt Waltz retired from the military he became a Corrections Officer in Ramsey County, MN. After 16 years in this role and a long time away from rodeo, Freddie returned to action in 2018 working new rodeos and adding a new act called For Cowpokes Only which is sure to be hit.
Born: 1951 in Lima, OH
