City park could be renamed for pro bull rider

Grand Coulee could soon have a park dedicated to world-champion bull rider Shane Proctor.

A proposal was made to the Grand Coulee City Council Feb. 21 by Bob Valen, who made the request on behalf of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. Valen is a chamber member and also a commissioner of the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District.

Valen proposed that Grand Coulee name its city park, on SR-174, “Shane Proctor Park.”

Proctor has distinguished himself on the professional bull riding and rodeo circuits, having won the World Championship PRCA Bull Riding title in 2011. He added to this honor winning the 2013 Built Ford Tough Series, and is the first cowboy to win a million dollars in both the PBR and PRCA.

Proctor graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School in 2003 and has been a rodeo contender ever since.

Grand Coulee councilmembers seemed warm to the idea, though they didn’t vote on renaming the park.

Valen said that the chamber of commerce would see that the sign honoring Proctor that was placed near North Cascades Bank would be moved. He suggested that a professional sign be made for the park and even offered to help secure funds to cover any expenses incurred.

The council, while enthused with the idea, didn’t commit itself.

Proctor, who now lives in South Carolina, returns to the area each spring to put on a bull riding school for kids.