Sports: Melissa Long, 1969, 1970, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: December 18, 1969 & April 16, 1970 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American Melissa Long World Champion Barrel Racer (12-18-1969) Melissa Long, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Long, formerly of Winnfield, has been named the world's championship barrel racer and also won the national finals. Melissa is one of the youngest to enter the competition. For her performances, whe was given numerous prizes, including a station wagon, two horse trailers, saddles, and cash. The family lived in Winnfield until about four years ago, when they moved to Natchitoches. They are former owners of the Huey P. Long Motel here, and now live in Oklahoma. Missy Long, Formerly of Winn, Holds World Title (4-16-1970) Missy Long, of Duncan, Okla., astounded the Rodeo World at the age of 13 by winning the 1969 World Championship in barrel racing, and the national finals barrel race. This is the first time in the history of the finals that both the world and national finals went to the same person. In the world championship race, Missy won $ 9,782.99, and approximately $ 1,500 in the national finals. She won these two titles last December in Oklahoma City. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Long, who were Winnfield residents until they moved to the "rodeo belt" two years ago. To hold a world title at the age of 13 may seem fantastic, but even more exciting is the fact that Missy was just a permit holder in the GRA in 1968, joining the latter part of the season. The year of 1969 was her first full year of competition. Missy won more awards than she could carry home. For World Champion, to name just a few, she received an Opel station wagon given by a Buick company; a horse trailer from a ranch supply; a sterling silver tray; a calendar watch; a gold and silver belt buckle; a pair of monogrammed silver marked spurs; fringed saddle blanket, boots, and many other awards. For winning the national finals barrel race, she received a horse trailer to pull for one year, a saddle, a gold and silver belt buckle, sterling silver engraved bowl, a rifle, personally presented by movie actor Joel McCrea. There are many fringe benefits for being a pretty, petite and very young World Champion title holder. Missy has been invited to New York to appear on "What's My Line" program. Also, a saddle manufacturing firm has designed a saddle in her honor, naming it the "Missy Long Special." She recently modeled Western Wear clothing and for this she appeared in a western magazine. Missy is currently in the third position in the 1970 championship standings. If her sorrel gelding, "Dandy", continues to work as well as she has, she will try for the championship again this year. This takes lots of time and much effort. She has worked consistently to become the champion she is. Last month Missy won the barrel racing event at the Astrodome in Houston. She made three runs in this race. The second run she made was a record time for the arena. She won the average, filling her pocket with a total of $ 1303.98. Attending a horsemanship camp for three consecutive years, she was 11 years old when she won the saddle which was given for the "Best All Around." Her young brother, Ricky, who is training for calf roping at the same camp, also won the saddle at the age of 11. Ricky is riding the family horse, "Sonny Boy". Missy is an honor student at the Empire Junior High School near Duncan, an is the queen of the school yearbook. After the school year, she and her family will attend as many rodeos as possible.