2010 GWGRA Royalty Team
Mr. Gene Cheek, Mr. IGRA 2010 1st Runner Up
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, this Country and Gospel Entertainer has been taking competitions by storm. A finalist in the Little Bit of Texas, Star Mania National Talent Search, Winner of the Nashville North National Talent Search, just to name a few. An alumni of the rodeo association, his concerts have taken him throughout the country on and off of the rodeo circuit. With past shows in Branson, Memphis, New Orleans, Loretta Lynn's Ranch and many others, Gene's love for country and gospel music shines on stage.
Much of the passion Gene feels when he sings is carried over from the old gospel hymns he learned as a child in his father's church. His musical direction turned to country music as he was growing up. There were many nights spent sitting by the record player listening to the songs of country music legends such as: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr., Loretta Lynn, and his favorite, Barbara Fairchild.
The turning point at which he knew he wanted to make country music his life was at his first concert where he saw Charley Pride on stage.
Gene has been chosen as the feature performer at two major rodeo association events in both Oklahoma and Missouri. He currently performs locally in the St. Louis area and was recently a first place winner in the Nashville North National Talent Search Competition, and a co-winner in the Star Mania Talent Competition, where he won the right to compete in the grand championships in Las Vegas, Nevada and invited as a guest appearance on NBC's Morning Show.
Gene donates a good deal of his time and musical talents to local charitable organizations, for which he generally acts as master of ceremonies. If you ask Gene what keeps him going out on the road? "If I can make even a small difference in one person's life, it makes all the hard work worth while."
What Royalty means to me and my plan:
Royalty, to me, is being a leader in the community, to help bring other organizations together to strive for a common goal. I hope to start a campaign to bring the rodeo into the lime light and bring a younger generation into the fold to ensure the continued success of the gay rodeo circuit well into the future.
email: Gene Cheek
Mr. Jim Sparks, Candidate for Mr. GWGRA 2011
 A charter member of Gateway Gay Rodeo Association, Jim Sparks, has been an increasingly active member of gay rodeo. Living in a very rural area northwest of
Troy
,
Missouri
, Jim has spent his life raising livestock, working in the crop fields, and riding horses. He has enjoyed country music, country dance, and the rural way all of his life.
Jim has been hooked on gay rodeo since he was taken to his first one nearly 10 years ago. Following that rodeo, he came back to find a group in the
St. Louis
area that were interested in forming a gay rodeo association. He joined the group to help organize, participate, and assist in fundraising/promotion events until the current time. Jim’s increased participation began when he first competed in a Gateway Gay Rodeo. He has competed in Goat Dressing and Steer Decorating and is currently exploring competing in other events as well. He has participated in most of the GWGRA events and meetings. He is frequently out on weekends enjoying and learning country dances in the
St. Louis
area. He has now competed in gay rodeos in
Oklahoma City
,
Minneapolis
,
Little Rock
,
Chicago
,
Kansas
City,
Las Vegas
, and
Denver
.
Jim has been a delegate to the International Gay Rodeo conventions in
New Orleans
and
Toronto
. He also participated in
IGRA
University
in
Las Vegas
last year. Jim has made many friends and learned a lot about gay rodeo through these events. Jim first became interested in the gay rodeo royalty with his efforts to assist his friends Gene Cheek and Crystal Wolf in their run and reign as GWGRA Royalty. He also went on to help several friends from other IGRA associations in their events. Finally, he declared himself as Candidate for Mr. GWGRA. As Mr. GWGRA, Jim plans to do all he can to encourage GWGRA events to be held in a variety of
St. Louis
and surrounding area locations to promote more awareness of the association and personally attend a variety of functions to encourage cooperation and support when possible.
email: Jim Sparks
2009 GWGRA Royalty Team
Miss Crystal Wolf, Miss GWGRA 2009
email: Greg Fatheree
Gene Cheek, Mr GWGRA 2009
Born in
St. Louis
Missouri
, this Country and Gospel Entertainer has been taking competitions by storm. A finalist in the Little Bit of Texas, Star Mania National Talent Search, Winner of the Nashville North National Talent Search, just to name a few. An alumni in the rodeo association, his concerts have taken him throughout the
Midwest
Much of the passion Gene feels when he sings is carried over from the old gospel hymns he learned as a child. His musical direction turned to country music as he was growing up. There were many nights spent sitting by the record player listening to the songs of country music legends such as: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr., Loretta Lynn, and his favorite, Barbara Fairchild. The turning point at which he knew he wanted to make country music his life was at his first concert where he saw Charley Pride on stage. Gene has been chosen as the feature performer at two major rodeo association events in both
Oklahoma
and
Missouri
. He currently performs locally in the
St. Louis
area and was recently a first place winner in the Nashville North National Talent Search Competition, and a co-winner in the Star Mania Talent Competition, where he won the right to compete in the grand championships in
Las Vegas
,
Nevada
and also a guest appearance on NBC’s Morning Show. Gene donates a good deal of his time and musical talents to local charitable organizations, for which he generally acts as master of ceremonies.
Vice President of MGRA St.Louis Chapter in 1991
President MGRA Joplin Chapter in 1993
Secretary GWGRA 2009
Mr. GWGRA 2009
email: Gene Cheek
2008 GWGRA Royalty Team
Champagne Cocktail, Miss GWGRA 2008
Wow where do I start, I did D.R.A.G. my first time on my 26th birthday in 1988. I was only going to do it just the one time. My friend “Sparkle” from Seattle was the first one to put me in D.R.A.G. I was completely amazed; I actually looked like Gloria Estephan, from Miami Sound Machine. I still have not figured out how she accomplished that. My shoes were two sized too small and 5” stilettos. I then started performing at the Double Header in Pioneer Square in Seattle Washington. I was doing regular shows there with help from Mr. George and Sparkle. I was then approached by Peaches O’Day Lane Dior, Then Queen of the United Ebony Council, Also Empress XXV of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Olympic and Rainier Empire f Seattle Washington. She talked me into running for my first pageant. I won Miss Unity of The United Ebony Council in 1990, and Reigned for my year doing fund raising. I found that the Fund Raising aspect of performing was a better fit for me. I continued to perform in many cities from Seattle to St. Louis and many locations in Canada. I then moved to St. Louis in 1996 and performed for a while. Worked as the show director at the Victorian with Sky Phillip’s
Before they went out of business. And then kind of took a break for a while, do to work commitments. Eighteen months ago, The Gateway Gay Rodeo Association approached me. I was asked to help with their organization by performing in their shows. And the idea of cowboys in Wranglers just made it impossible for me to resist. I started performing with them and was asked to consider running for Miss GWGRA 2008. I after careful deliberation took them up on their offer. I won 1st runner-up to Miss Mona with the GWGRA and do to personal reasons she had to resign which put me in the position of assuming the Title of Miss GWGRA 2008. The Rodeo association has been very good to me and I am proud to be a member of a great organization doing great things for their community.
Champagne Cocktail
Miss GWGRA 2008
email: Edward Cox
Michael True, Mr. GWGRA 2008
email: Michael True
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