NMWHM Hall of Fame Welcome Reception & Symposium 10/15/2026. 11 AM-1 PM

Welcome Reception & Symposium Program presented by Art T. Burton at the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum. ART T. BURTON | 2026 SYMPOSIUM SPEAKER Art T. Burton Explores The History of Black Rodeo Award-winning author and Museum Historian headlines the 22nd Hall of Fame Induction Welcome Reception & Symposium Art T. Burton | NMWHM 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee Award-winning author Art T. Burton will bring his passion for Western history to the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame’s 22nd Hall of Fame Induction Welcome Reception & Symposium. His presentation, “The History of Black Rodeo,” will take place Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the 11 AM–1 PM gathering at the Museum. Burton, the Museum’s Historian and a 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee, has devoted decades to uncovering and sharing the stories of African American and Native American figures in the American West. His books include Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves, Black, Red and Deadly, and Black Buckskin and Blue. His research brings attention to lawmen, scouts, soldiers, and other individuals whose contributions have often been overlooked. An experienced educator, Burton earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in African American Studies from Governors State University. He spent 38 years in higher education, including teaching history at Prairie State College and South Suburban College in Illinois. His work has also reached television audiences through historical documentaries and programs about the American West. In 2015, he received the Living Legend Award from the Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The welcome reception and symposium will offer Hall of Fame alumni, Museum supporters, and community members an opportunity to reconnect and explore Black rodeo’s place in America’s Western heritage. Join us Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 11 AM–1 PM LOCATION: National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum 2201 Dottie Lynn Parkway, Suite 115, Fort Worth, TX 76120 Free admission. Registration requested. Free parking. Questions or to register by phone: (817) 534-8801 | [email protected] | NMWHM.org Attire: Casual or Western PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY TO ATTEND THE 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET GALA ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026! National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet Gala 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Induction presented with support from TotalEnergies, Visit Fort Worth, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and community sponsors FORT WORTH, Texas, September 16, 2026 — The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame has announced the 2026 Hall of Fame Class, a distinguished group of honorees whose courage, excellence, leadership, and trailblazing contributions helped shape the story of the American West. The 2026 living inductees are Paul Allen (Allen, Texas), Buffalo Soldier Historian; Dwayne Hargo, Sr. (Fort Fairfield, Maine), Professional Bullfighter; Stephanie Haynes (Houston, Texas), Professional Rodeo Participant; Matt Merritt (Minden, Louisiana), Professional Bullfighter; Jimmy Lee Walker (Salem, New Jersey), Professional Rodeo Participant; and Lee Roy Young (Del Rio, Texas), First Black Texas Ranger in the modern era. The 2026 posthumous inductees are Gene Walker (Pompano Beach, Florida), Professional Rodeo Participant, and Willie Ed Walker (Salem, New Jersey), Professional Rodeo Participant. With the induction of the 2026 Hall of Fame Class of eight, the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame will proudly reach a total of 159 Hall of Fame inductees. These brave men and women represent the broad, multicultural legacy of the American West—historians who preserve the stories of service and sacrifice, rodeo professionals and bullfighters whose skill and grit helped define Western sport, and public servants whose historic achievements opened doors for generations to come. Their contributions deepen the public’s understanding of the frontier experience and affirm that people of many backgrounds, cultures, and callings built the West. Founded by Jim and Gloria Austin in 2001, the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame was created to recognize the outstanding pioneers and diverse communities that helped settle and shape the early American western frontier. Today, the museum continues that mission through exhibits, educational programming, living history presentations, and the Hall of Fame, ensuring that stories too often left out of traditional Western history are preserved, shared, and celebrated for future generations. “This celebration would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose commitment helps us honor the people and stories that define the multicultural legacy of the American West,” said Jim Austin, Co-founder of the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame. “We are deeply grateful to each sponsor for helping make this year’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet Gala a meaningful tribute to the 2026 inductees and to the communities they represent.” “Recognizing these honorees is central to our mission because their stories help families, students and communities see the full truth of Western heritage,” said Gloria Austin, Co-founder and Executive Director of the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame. “For more than two decades, this museum has worked to protect that legacy, and we are proud to celebrate the 2026 class as part of a living history that continues to inspire.” Event DetailsEvent: National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Banquet Gala. Master of Ceremonies: Steve Pickett, Anchor/Reporter, CBS Texas Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026 Location: The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth, 1316 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. NOTE: GPS and parking: Use 501 S. Ballinger Street, Fort Worth, TX 76104 for driving directions. Free parking is available at the venue. Schedule: Reception at 6:00 p.m. | Induction Ceremony and Banquet at 7:00 p.m. Banquet tickets, banquet tables, and banquet sponsorships are available at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/22nd-annual-hall-of-fame-induction-and-banquet-gala For additional information, contact Gloria Austin at 817-534-8801 or 817-922-9999. The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum 22nd Hall of Fame Induction Program Sponsors include Visit Fort Worth, TotalEnergies, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Wrangler, Kelly Hart, H-E-B, City Center Fort Worth, Law Offices of Domingo Garcia, Hillwood, Frost, BNSF Railway, Luther King Capital Management, and Media Sponsor Jim Austin Online. A Special Thank You to our 2026 Hall of Fame Weekend & National Day of the American Cowboy Celebration Program Sponsors! --Public Events Policy Waiver-- An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and variants still exists in any public place where people are present. By visiting/participating you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and variants. Mask are optional. Mask and sanitizer will be available. Non-vaccinated attendees are encouraged to wear a mask at all times (including parking lots), except when they are actively eating or drinking. National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum will continue to implement a series of health and sanitization policies and procedures and is monitoring guidelines from the CDC, and public health officials. Please be advised that these safety protocols remain subject to change. Thank you for helping us to keep our event location clean and healthy in this difficult time. Your cooperation helps to keep our non-profit organization running and supporting educational family oriented programs.