Ned Londo selected as 2018 NIRAA Alumnus of the Year
story by Sharon Adams
Ned Londo was an outstanding rodeo cowboy but he was chosen as the Alumnus of Year by the NIRA Alumni for his exemplary service on the Alumni Board of Directors. His friend Stan Harter twisted his arm a bit to get him to “volunteer” but, like every commitment he has made in his life, he gives it his best. He gives thoughtful consideration to the dual goals of the Alumni: support college rodeo and encourage continuing education. The board knows that when Ned speaks, he has thought through a situation and his opinion will be brief, on point, and respected. When he takes on a task, he can be counted on to get the job done. His contacts in rodeo and especially as a member of the very active CalPoly alumni group have been invaluable. He supports college rodeo with his time and his talent, an outstanding board member and a worthy Alumnus of the Year.
Ned Londo was born with saddle bronc riding as part of his genetic code. He comes from a family of Nevada bronc riders and by the time Ned was in his early teens, he and his young friends were learning to ride broncs. His lifelong friend, Richard Schneehagen, said that back before there were any youth rodeos in the Las Vegas area, they found some practice stock and began learning to rodeo. He learned well! He competed in three college finals and went to the National Finals Rodeo in the PRCA in 1966, 1970, and 1972. He qualified for a fourth National Finals but by that time the Vietnam War interfered. He had been drafted into the Army, served in Vietnam in an Artillery unit. And that genetics thing—his son Ben Londo competed in three college finals, was the All Around Champion in 2005 and 2006. Ben was the NIRA Bareback Champion and placed third in the Saddle Bronc Riding in 2006 and is the current coach at CalPoly/SLO.
Ned was attending Lamar College in Colorado when he first went to the College Finals Rodeo and that was when he tied for the Saddle Bronc Championship with fellow Nevadan, Pink Peterson who was competing for Casper College, Ned transferred to Casper College and in 1965, he came in second in Saddle Bronc Riding to Pink Peterson! Ned completed his education at CalPoly/San Luis Obispo. At the Finals in 1966, he placed third in Saddle Bronc behind Ivan Daines and Bob Berger.
Over the years Ned has ridden some of the top saddle broncs: Descent (more than once!), Jesse James, Trails End, Rodeo News, Ol Shep and he has competed against some of the best: Bill Smith, Clint Johnson, Rick Smith, Chuck Swanson. The story goes that the group of saddle bronc riders, just mentioned, were shooting the breeze and someone asked Bill Smith if he, Bill, was the best bronc rider of his era. Bill shook his head and pointed across the room at Ned! High praise from a man who competed at the National Finals Rodeo for thirteen years.
Ned and his wife Chris live in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. They have two children, Ben Londo and Ashley Elsey and four grandchildren. Ned has a successful career in real estate.
