Chad Nicholson
Courtesy ProRodeo
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Chad Nicholson, a PRCA announcer since 1993, passed away May 17 in the mountains in Woodlake, Calif., in a jeep accident. He was 50. Nicholson is survived by his wife, Jennifer Welch Nicholson, who has a PRCA specialty act, the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls.
Nicholson announced at PRCA rodeos all over the country, including the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2002; RAM Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo (2005, 2014-15); RAM Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo (2001, 2005); RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo (1998-99, 2002, 2006, 2008); RAM Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo (1996); Black Hills Roundup (Belle Fourche, S.D., 2001-15); Rooftop PRCA Rodeo (Estes Park, Colo., 2000-14); and the Oakdale (Calif.) Saddle Club Rodeo (2003-10).
Nicholson, who worked 100-plus performances a year, was also the emcee for the 2015 ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was emcee at the 2018 PRCA Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.
Outside of professional rodeo, Nicholson voiced over radio/TV commercials and various projects worldwide. He is the voice of the talking dog and liner voice on the FarmersOnly.com TV commercial “riding date” and “fishing date” spots, which still air. He also announced at monster truck shows. In 2012, he was part of the production crew for the United States’ portion of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th Diamond Jubilee Celebration, All the Queen’s Horses, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, with the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls.
Nicholson also trained the next generation of rodeo announcers. In 2005, at the urging of his friend ProRodeo Hall of Fame announcer Bob Tallman, Nicholson founded the Chad Nicholson Rodeo Announcer’s Training Seminar, held annually in Fort Worth, Texas.