Wana Gilfillian was born June 24, 1938, in Dayton, Texas. Wana married rodeo cowboy Hollis Gilfillian on July 8, 1955, in Beaumont, Texas. While going to rodeos with Hollis, Wana got her R.C.A. timer card and started keeping time and carrying the flag in the Grand Entry. Wana then got her R.C.A. secretary card, number 8028. Her duties as Rodeo Secretary included taking entries, keeping the books, publicity work, and working with the local Rodeo Committees coordinating things. She worked 25 to 30 rodeos per year for many years. Wana worked for rodeo producers Winfree Cattle Company, H.C. “Bill” Kahla, and Kinney Brothers producing R.C.A., and College rodeos in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. She also served as secretary for 4-H Little Britches Rodeos in Southeast, Texas.
Hollis Gilfillian was born November 14, 1929, in Beaumont, Texas. He is a 6’6″ cowboy and brother of bull riders Darrell and Onis Gilfillian. Hollis at a young age worked for a horse trader, breaking young horses. This inspired him to rodeo. At 15, he began trying out bulls for local rodeo producers. He then went on to compete in amateur Southern Rodeo Association and Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos. Hollis got his R.C.A. membership in 1949, card #1124, and rode bulls until 1960, mostly in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Though he usually rode bulls, he would occasionally ride bareback horses and compete in the Bulldogging. He took a 21-month break from rodeo while serving in the Army in Korea, from 1953 to 1955. Hollis was not only a competitor, he judged rodeos and was the Arena Director for many. He worked for H.C. “Bill” Kahla Rodeos and Winfree Cattle Company producing R.C.A and N.R.A. college rodeos throughout the South. Hollis is currently a Gold Card member of the P.R.C.A. Hollis also helped produce Little Britches Rodeos with the local 4-H groups in Southeast Texas during the late 1960s. Some of these young contestants have gone on to compete at the National Finals Rodeo in later years.
