ABILENE, Kansas – This year’s Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo (Aug. 2-5) will bring some happy and some sad memories to one Dickinson County family.

Rylee Miller was born and raised around Abilene and every year from birth to 21 she never missed the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo, according to her mother, Jill (Watt) Elwood.

“It was a part of our family ritual, like a lot of local families,” she said. Rylee’s grandfather, Roger Watt, was a big part of the rodeo committee and was president for years. Her dad is Bruce Miller, who appeared on the commemorative saddle bronc buckle one year.

Rylee was killed in an...