Shirley Herrin (October 15,1939 – October 26, 2021)
Shirley Herrin was a proud lifetime member of the Helena Trail Riders Saddle Club. Shirley was involved with the NSCA since the first National Championship show in 1966 in Billings, Montana. Shirley was not a competitor, but was always an active supporter of the organization, pioneering some of the offices, such as Assistant to the Secretary, Head Timer and Historian, as she performed these roles before they became official offices in the NSCA. She took great pride in helping in the announcers stand from the first NSCA right through her last NSCA in 2021 in Blackfoot, Idaho. Shirley could always be counted on to help with writing times, adding points and even hand-timing until electronic eyes replaced stop watches.
When she wasn’t in the announcers stand, Shirley could be found behind a camera, taking pictures, videoing her family or in a stand judging the events. She knew the value of preserving history, as she was very involved in many organizations such as Montana Capital Restoration, Montana Saddle Clubs Association, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame to name just a few. Naturally, she was very invested in documenting the history of the NSCA thru photographs, scrapbooks and memorabilia. She took great care of these keepsakes, most of which can be found in the Helena Trail Riders Club house to this day.
Shirley enjoyed watching her children and family ride, and the family legacy of Nationals was very important to her. She loved reconnecting with people from other states once a year and was a caregiver to anyone she took under her wing. Many people have fond memories of her dancing with her kids and grandkids at the awards banquets, the videos she captured of her family's rides and the scrap books she made to preserve and share the history of the NSCA.
Although Shirley loved watching her family compete, she was most proud of her husband Keith Herrin. She took pride in his accomplishments as a founder of the NSCA and worked to promote the NSCA right beside him. She was instrumental in organizing the first National Championship in Helena, Montana- helping to find sponsors for the awards.
Shirley was an integral part in the development of the NSCA, acting as a spokesperson and historian for the association as well as a loving wife, mother and friend. We are forever grateful for her dedication to, and preservation of the NSCA.