Chris LeDoux Honored as Distinguished Alumnus at Cheyenne Central High School Hall of Fame
Cheyenne, Wyoming — Nearly two decades after his passing, Chris LeDoux continues to ride tall in the hearts of those who knew his story. This week, Cheyenne Central High School officially added the late country music and rodeo legend to its Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Alumnus, recognizing not only his incredible career but also the values that defined him—humility, courage, and authenticity.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1948, Chris grew up between the Air Force bases where his father was stationed before the family eventually settled in Wyoming. He attended Central High School in Cheyenne, where he was known as a standout student-athlete, a talented rodeo competitor, and a quiet but magnetic presence. Long before fame found him, classmates remembered him as “the boy who could draw horses better than anyone, and ride them even better.”
At the induction ceremony, held in the school’s auditorium, the atmosphere was filled with nostalgia and pride. Chris’s wife, Peggy LeDoux, was present to accept the honor on behalf of her late husband. Wearing Chris’s original letterman jacket from the Class of 1967, Peggy received a warm standing ovation from alumni, students, and faculty members who gathered to celebrate the hometown hero.
“Chris always said Wyoming was where he learned everything that mattered—about hard work, loyalty, and integrity,” Peggy shared emotionally. “He would’ve been so proud to be recognized here, where it all began.”
Chris’s journey from Cheyenne to becoming a world champion rodeo cowboy and a chart-topping country artist remains one of the most inspiring stories in Western culture. After winning the 1976 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Bareback Championship, he began self-releasing music inspired by the rodeo life—songs that spoke to cowboys and dreamers alike. Titles like “Bareback Jack,” “Rodeo Moon,” and “Cadillac Cowboy” became cult classics long before Nashville took notice.
His independent spirit and authenticity earned him a devoted following that included future country superstar Garth Brooks, who later helped bring Chris’s music to a mainstream audience. Together, they recorded “Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy,” which became a Top 10 hit in 1992.
But even as fame grew, Chris remained deeply connected to his Wyoming roots. He and Peggy settled in Kaycee, Wyoming, where they raised their family and built the “LeDoux Ranch”, a place that symbolized everything he stood for—family, faith, and cowboy grit.
For Central High School, inducting Chris LeDoux wasn’t just about celebrating a famous alumnus—it was about honoring the enduring spirit of Wyoming itself. Principal Mark Lundquist stated during the ceremony, “Chris showed generations of students that success isn’t about where you end up, but about how true you stay to where you came from.”
Throughout the event, photos of Chris in his rodeo gear, performing onstage, and spending time with his family played across the big screen. Students, some not even born when Chris passed away in 2005, were visibly moved by the story of a man who lived—and sang—about authenticity.
The ceremony concluded with a live performance of “This Cowboy’s Hat” by a local student band, drawing applause and a few tears from attendees.
“His music isn’t just about rodeo,” said one student. “It’s about life, about staying grounded, about remembering who you are. That’s something all of us can learn from.”
As Peggy walked out of the auditorium, still wearing Chris’s old jacket, the crowd erupted in applause once more—a fitting tribute to a man who never stopped representing Wyoming with quiet pride.