Pro rodeo clown Rasmussen brings home three awards

Friday, Dec. 10, 1999 | 10:42 a.m.

In professional sports, to win three major honors in one year is tough enough, but to win three awards for two straight years is beyond tough.

Just ask Montana cowboy Flint Rasmussen, the 31-year old professional rodeo clown who picked up three major awards for the second straight year, including the two highest Original Coors Rodeo annual awards, during the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Contract Personnel Awards banquet at the Riviera hotel-casino.

Rasmussen received all three awards for the second time in his brief six-year career. A member of the PRCA as a cowboy clown since 1994, the popular Rasmussen pulled off the unique triple, being honored as the 1999 Original Coors Man in the Can, the 1999 Original Coors Clown of the Year and this year's barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo.

"It's an honor that's beyond belief, because last year it was already unbelievable just to be up on the same stage with rodeo clowns who are truly legends in the sport," said the soft-spoken Rasmussen, from Stevenville, Mont. "There's something scary about thinking you might win. Right now, I'm just plain petrified."

Rasmussen received a specially crafted commemorative gold buckle as well as a bonus check of $10,000 that goes to the Original Coors Man in the Can award winner each year.

Rasmussen also received a replica trophy of the Original Coors Man in the Can bronze sculpture, which was developed in 1996 by noted Western artist T.R. Chytka of Spearfish, S.D. Rasmussen's name once again will be added to the bronze sculpture that is permanently on display at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.