Below are the winners for the 19th Annual Academy of Western Artists “Will Rogers Awards”. Congratulations to each and every one of them. This year’s event was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Irving, Texas, March 28, 2015.
These are the announced winners and categories:
Artist-Loren Entz, Montana
Cartoonist-Ash Cooper, Canada
Bootmaker-DW Frommer II, Redmond, OR
Saddlemaker-Troy West, Azle, TX
Don King Memorial Saddlemaker-Don Butler, Sheridan, WY
Engraver- Annie Wieden, Australia
Master Leather Artisan- Chuck Smith-Valley Center, CA
Bit/Spurmaker- George Blackwood, Blue Ridge, TX
Braider-Whit Olson, Canistota, SD
Garnet Brooks Chuckwagon-JL Chuckwagon, Abilene, TX
Elmer Kelton Fiction Book- “The Big Drift”, Patrick Dearen, Midland, TX
Elmer Kelton Non Fiction- “Creating Texas” Jeffrey Dane, Brooklyn, NY/Rod Timanus, Glendale, AZ
Buck Ramsey Cowboy Poet-Shadd Piehl, Fargo, ND
Buck Ramsey Cowgirl Poet-Virginia Bennett, Goldendale, WA
Radio Station-KTNK, Lompoc, CA
Disc Jockey-Tom Wardle, Kintersville, PA
Outstanding Achievement, Albert Talley, Cleburne, TX
Distinguished Service-Larry Byers, Texas
Western Music Male- Barry Ward
Western Music Female-Belinda Gail
Western Music Duo/Group-Hanson Family
Western Music Album/CD- “Jewel of the West” Lee Lee Robert
Western Music Song-“Scios” Doug Figgs
Western Swing Male-Coby Carter
Western Swing Female-Sharyn Lee
Western Swing Duo/Group-Western Swing Authority
Western Swing Album/CD-“A Platter of Brownies” Carolyn Martin
Western Swing Song-“You Can’t Make It Up” Rick & The Ramblers
Instrumentalist of the Year-Rocco Fortunato
Pure Country Male-JD Micals
Pure Country Female-Janice Maynard
Pure Country Duo/Group-Michael Dart & Skyline Wranglers
Pure Country Album/CD-“A World Away” Kimberly Murray
Pure Country Song-“Hold That Thought” Myra Rolen
Young Artist-Shannon Hall