February 4, 1956 -
IGRA# 4833
First attended a gay rodeo in 1990
Inducted 2022
Rick began his adventure with IGRA in 1990, when a friend suggested that they attend the Great Plains Region Rodeo (GPRR) in Oklahoma City (OKC). A gay rodeo? He didn't know there was such a thing. When the time came to go, they loaded up (his friend, Rick and Rick's expectation), and made the trip to OKC. Not knowing what to expect, Rick and his friend had a blast. Rick was ready for next year's rodeo, and was hoping to be participating in the rodeo somehow, but how did one go about getting started?
After asking around, Rick met some rodeo people that hung-out at the Bunkhouse Bar in OKC, and they were very informative about how to get started. They suggested Rick join the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association (OGRA), and so, in April 1991 he did. Rick attended the next monthly rodeo meeting of OGRA, and the topic of competition for the 1992 OGRA Royalty Team was on the agenda. Rick was thinking he could do this, and it would be a way to get more involved with the local gay rodeo. He signed up for the royalty competition, received an IGRA Rodeo Rulebook, instructions on the requirements, and paid the entry fee of twenty-five dollars. He was set to compete. Rick competed and: "Oh no!", he won "Mr. OGRA 1992." In somewhat of a state of shock, Rick was wondering: "Now what do I do?" He had never won anything, let alone to represent the state of Oklahoma! Also, he came from an area of Oklahoma where rodeo was a big thing but being gay required him to be "closeted." Little did he know what an adventure awaited him! Some 27 rodeo seasons later the ride has been awesome, and it continues today as he is inducted into the Hall of Fame. Well over 300 rodeos, several thousand miles traveled, and a book full of stories.
On sad note, the friend that suggested Rick attend his first rodeo passed from AIDS complications before Rick won the title of "MR. OGRA 1992." Rick vowed he would do what he could to be a part of the rodeo that made the one dollar that made the difference in the fight against HIV.
After winning the title of Mr. OGRA 1992, a month later at the Texas Gay Rodeo in Dallas he placed 3rd in the Wild Drag Race with his OGRA Royalty Team at his first rodeo competition: the adventure was off and running.
Sometime before the May 1992 rodeo in OKC an IGRA Rodeo Judge, Clen Pierce, suggested that Rick would make a good rodeo judge, and he should consider it. Clen mentioned that a Judge's seminar was being held at the OKC rodeo in May. Rick attended the seminar on the Friday afternoon before the rodeo and found it interesting. That weekend when Rick was not doing his royalty duties, he would attend the Judge's School in the stands during the rodeo with one of the working judges. Rick was in no hurry to get his Judges Certification, but after winning a spot on the 1993 IGRA Royalty Team as a runner up to Mr. IGRA Rick continued to attend Judge's School at each rodeo he attended.
In October of 1993, at the IGRA Finals Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas Rick was certified as an IGRA Rodeo Judge, and he judged his first rodeo as a "Rookie Judge" in Phoenix, AZ in 1994. And the ride continues.
Positions Rick has held:
OGRA: