Jerry Carter has participated in Cheyenne Frontier Days since a young age going on to act as a volunteer for multiple CFD committees. As a small boy he used to sneak into the CFD Rodeo, once getting to watch the rodeo from a contestant’s horse! Later, in 1953 Jerry competed in the CFD Wild Horse Race after high school. This year now marks Jerry Carter’s 44th year as a CFD Volunteer. He is a long time member off the Public Relations Committee, Silver HEEL member of the HEELS, Member of the Buckle club, and still serves as a PR volunteer on its Sponsor Host sub committee.

Jerry started as a volunteer in 1973 with the Tickets Committee and two years later transferred to the then newly formed Publicity Committee taking the Information Wagons from Tickets with him. These Wagons, now the Howdy Wagons, still provide visitor information and guidance to the park. As an Assistant he worked primarily with the media ranging from local stations to national and foreign film crews. In 1980, Publicity Chairman Pete McNiff asked Jerry to design the Miss Frontier buckle in memory of Sandy Hirsig. The buckle is still in use today.

In 1982 Jerry was selected to the General Committee and at his suggestion the Publicity Committee was renamed Public Relations Committee as it had taken on several new duties, including responsibility for visiting VIP’s, Sponsors and Special Guests. That year the first order of business for the Committee was the signing of a personal note by each Committee Chairman for $250,000 to cover the costs of staff and administration, as monies from the previous years show had already been spent.

Carter’s first committee assignment from Tom Powers, General Chairman was to evaluate the Old West Museum operations. As a result of his recommendations the Governor’s Invitational Art Show and Sale Committee was moved from the Museum to the General Committee and, two years later, a new art show, for just local artists, was then started under the museum. This new show has since evolved into the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale. Jerry continues to work as a volunteer at both art shows where you can usually find him behind a bar serving the buyers.

While on the General Committee he was also instrumental in bringing the Wrangler Bull Fights to the night show. When Pete McNiff left the committee he told Jerry that George Michael would be calling about shooting CFD. After a lengthy conversation, and despite the fact that he was from the East Coast and had not shot rodeo before, Jerry decided to assign a PR Assistant to him and have him shoot the rodeo. George Michael is most known for his TV show, The Sports Machine and not only did Geroge and Jerry become friends but George became a friend of CFD.

After finishing his term on the General Committee he was named to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum Board. He then later served on the museum’s Building Committee for the design and construction of the museum’s Vandewark Wing and the remodel of the current building’s south side. He later was asked to join with his wife Vicci, who at that time was an assistant on the Indian Committee, to serve as chaperones for Miss Frontier and her Lady in Waiting. Beginning in 1993 for five years the Carter’s hosted and provided housing for visiting State Rodeo Queens and their chaperons at their home during Cheyenne Frontier Days. They were then asked by General Committee Chairman VanHorn to start year round chaperoning of the CFD royalty. They later turned it over to past Miss Frontier, Trish Wepner.

Three years later he returned to PR Committee from the Indians Committee and is working with sponsors at both the day and night shows again. He currently works as a volunteer on his old PR Committee in the Sponsor Deck bar serving the sponsors and dignitaries that visit the sponsor box. His most recent project has been the conception, design and construction of the new bar in the East Grandstand Sponsor’s Box.

As stated in one of the letters received for his nomination “Jerry’s fingerprints can be found throughout Cheyenne Frontier Days”. Another letter describes Jerry as “always ready, willing and able to help complete any task regardless of any recognition. He is the most consistent and dedicated servant for the show that I’ve ever seen.