Martha and her great sorrel gelding, Fame Fox Kirk have had a spectacular futurity year!  

Not only were the pair named the Speedhorse Gold Cup Reserve Futurity Champions, but they have placed at nearly every place they have been.  Martha took Fame to his first rodeo in Coleman, TX this summer and the pair picked up a first place check!  Not bad for a rookie!  

Martha and Fame make a great team!  Let's wish them luck at their last futurity for the year, the World Championship Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK!

Check out the Gallery for more pictures of Martha and Fame!

This summer, Martha was honored at The Cowboy Capitol Walk of Fame in Stephenville, Texas.  The Walk of Fame recognizes cowboys and cowgirls who have made an impact on our Western heritage, which is an integral part of Stephenville and the surrounding area.  The  2000 inductees were Bob Doty, Chick Elms, Joe & Chitchi Fambro, Walt & Debbie Garrison, J.M. "Junior" McNeill, Buster Welch, Isora Young,  the 1969, 1970, 1971 Women's TSU National Intercollegiate Rodeo Team and the 1967 Men's TSU National Intercollegiate Rodeo Team.

Martha was a member of the TSU Rodeo Team.  The Women's Team were National Champions in 1969, 1970 and 1971.  Pictured at right, from left to right... Martha Tompkins Wright, Vicki Higgins Emerson and Sharon Harrison Youngblood.

Bronze plaques were revealed for the inductees and were permanently placed at the courthouse square in downtown Stephenville. The inductees were then honored at a luncheon immediately after. Martha was very proud to be recognized as part of such a great team and was very excited to see all of her college buddies again!

If you have a chance to get to Stephenville and see the Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame, you won't be disappointed.  The grounds are beautiful and the members are truly the best of the best.  Martha's dad, Harry Tompkins and her grandparents, Everett and Eva Colborn are also members!

The 2000 Tad Lucas Memorial Award

In October, 2000 Martha received the highest honor of her career.  She was awarded the Tad Lucas Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center. 

Tad Lucas was known as "Rodeo's First Lady,"  and there is grand truth in that statement. No one, man or woman, rode rough stock or performed more fearlessly than Tad Lucas.

Tad was with the Frank Hafley Wild West Show, becoming the only woman ever to ride a Brahma bull in New York's Madison Square Garden. She won her first trick riding prize in 1925 at Cheyenne Frontier Days, and, that year, also became All Around Cowgirl for trick riding, racing and bronc riding.

For eight consecutive years Tad was Champion All Around Cowgirl and World's Champion Woman Trick Rider in Madison Square Garden. In 1924, she married champion steer wrestler and bronc rider Buck Lucas. They moved to Fort Worth and began a family with Dorothy and Mitzi, the latter becoming a champion trick rider in her own right.

Tad Lucas was an original, and was honored by the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

By all accounts, Tad was a woman of not only great talent, but of spirit, courage and compassion. The Tad Lucas award is awarded to women who have exhibited the same sort of extraordinary characteristics while upholding and promoting our great Western heritage.

Mitzi Lucas Riley, presented a beautiful medallion to Martha in honor of her mother. Martha then gave an acceptance speech, making sure to recognize the people that helped her get to where she is today...her father Harry Tompkins, mentor Lanham Riley and husband Ed Wright.

Along with Martha's award, Dale Smith was awarded the Ben Johnson Memorial Award.  Martha and Dale, along with friends and family were treated to a wonderful awards banquet and entertained by the legendary Red Steagall.  It was truly a night Martha will cherish forever!