Over the past 99 years, many people have made valuable contributions to the success of the Greeley Stampede. The Greeley Stampede has selected two outstanding individuals and one family to be inducted into the 2022 Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame through a community nomination process. “The Stampede is what it is today because of the countless hours that all of these nominees put in to make our community better,” said Justin Watada, General Manager and Hall of Fame Chairman.
The Hill Family
The Hill Family’s involvement in the Greeley Stampede started in the 1970s when the Stampede transitioned into a stand-alone organization. Carl Hill first joined the Stampede Committee in 1976. After 25 years of involvement, Carl was named the 1999 Grand Marshal for his major contributions to the success of the Stampede. In 1987, Gary Hill was elected to the Stampede Committee and served as Grounds Chairman until 1989. In 2002, Brett Hill became the Stampede Parade’s Trail Boss. The Hill family has served on the Stampede Committee as a Wrangler or Trail boss for over three decades and has played a vital role in the growth of the Stampede itself.
Lynn Settje
As the CEO of the first Greeley Stampede, Lynn Settje helped lead the event to gain international recognition. Settje’s first assignment as a member of the Stampede Committee in 1989 was to organize the 4th of July parade – a community tradition that has grown to be one of the largest 4th of July parades in the nation – which he coordinated to be televised on 9News. His second assignment was to manage and create national sponsors. Settje created the Rustler Newspaper to expand the reach of the Greeley Stampede. Settje won the Grand Pinnacle Awards in 1999 and 2006. Much of what Settje incorporated in his time as CEO is still in effect today.
Ron Jackson
In 1989, Jackson became a member of the Stampede Committee, serving for six years before being selected as the General Chairman in 1993. Jackson played a prominent role in making the Stampede a more profitable organization. He was instrumental in major capital improvement projects, including the west arena enclosure project, the Stampede office expansion, and the construction of the portable music stage. With this new stage, Jackson helped bring big names like Willie Nelson and the Judds to Greeley.
