Maury Tate, founder of the “Mo” Betta clothing line and a big name
in national rodeo circles, will be inducted into the WOSC Alumni
Hall of Fame Friday evening at the annual Foundation and Alumni
Recognition Banquet.
Tate has been involved in some aspect of rodeo all his life. He had
a college rodeo career at Western from 1984-86, and those were some
very successful years for the rodeo team. Recruited by Coach Corkey
Parker, Tate recalls very good times with his teammates and in the
classroom. Soon after Tate left Western, he turned professional and
experienced immediate success in the rodeo arena. The popularity of
his shirt design, however, overshadowed his rodeo career.
In 1987, he started a small company called “Mo” Betta Shirt Company
in response to growing demand for the style of shirt he had
originally intended for himself. He had grown tired of a plain
cowboy style shirt and wanted a flashier look. It soon became
evident that a lot of other cowboys liked the look as well. At first
he was selling his shirts literally off his back. Later, he had his
mother, Nancy, and a growing group of ladies back home making shirts
that he would take with him and sell while he was on the road. The
increasingly popular shirt got a huge boost when the rising star
Garth Brooks began wearing the “Mo” Betta shirts.
The name “Mo” Betta has a connection to Western Oklahoma State
College, according to Tate. When he was a student eating in the
cafeteria with rodeo teammates from Louisiana, they would often ask
him to pass the catsup or some other sauce. But their terminology
was a little strange to him. They would ask him to “pass that
mobetta sauce.” It was term that stuck with Tate.
Several years later, he was gratified to note that every calf roper
at the National Finals Rodeo was wearing a “Mo” Betta shirt.
A few of his other famous customers include Tracy Lawrence, Tim
McGraw, and Joe Diffie. He has been featured in several national
magazines, including People magazine, Western Horseman,
Country Weekly, Entrepreneur, and was featured on the Crook
and Chase television show.
He was the spokesperson for the Oklahoma Chevy Team for five years.
He did all the television and radio ads, speaking engagements and
live radio remotes. Chevrolet designed a special edition “Mo” Betta
Chevy Truck and a car they called the “Mo” Betta Berretta. These
were sold exclusively in Oklahoma.
Tate eventually sold the rights to mass produce his shirts, although
hometown store in Apache continues to operate under the management
of his mother.
Tate has continued to pursue his rodeo interests. He has been a
professional calf roper for many years and a consistent finisher in
the top 30. He was a winner at many of the major rodeos, including
Reno, Greeley, Springdale, Colorado Springs, Pecos, Livingston,
Prairie Circuit, Prairie Circuit Finals, Dodge National Circuit
Finals.
An Olympic rodeo competitor in 1991, he now operates the Cody Nite
Rodeo in Cody, Wyoming, and lives in Wyoming for several months each
year. He also produces several other rodeos, and he is a
Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association livestock contractor.
Tate is an excellent promoter, and uses these talents often for the
benefit of his hometown community. He initiated several ongoing
events in Apache, including the “Mo” Betta Invitational Calf Roping,
the Celebrity Quail Hunt, the Apache Rattlesnake Hunt, and the “Mo”
Betta Bull Bash and Futurity
Of special note is the “Mo” Betta Celebrity Quail Hunt, a fundraiser
that has provided a half million dollars for a therapeutic riding
program for handicapped children. This event has been supported by
celebrities such as Barry Switzer, Steve Largent, Steve Emtman,
Governor Frank Keating, Congressman J.C. Watts, Bob Stoops, Josh
Heipul, Steve Owens, Jerome Scheeberger and Billy Etbauer, and many
other professional athletes, politicians and professional cowboys.
Tate and his wife Nikki have two daughters, Cydney and Hadley. He is
the son of Nancy and the late Bub Tate.
He was born in Altus and is the grandson of Rosie and Olen Tate of
Altus.
The Friday evening event will also honor donors who have reached a
significant milestone in giving to the WOSC Foundation.
Entertainment will be provided by the Joe Settlemires Jazz Quartet.
For more information, call Larry Duffy, vice president of
development and alumni relations, at 580-477-7706 or email
foundation@wosc.edu.
