Myrtis Dightman Explained

Myrtis Dightman
Birth Date:7 May 1935
Birth Place:Houston County, Texas, United States
Other Names:"Jackie Robinson of Rodeo"
Known For:Rodeo
Occupation:Bull rider
Spouse:Fannie Mae (div.)
Parents:Odie Dightman and Ada Lee Polk

Myrtis Dightman (born May 7, 1935) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He is a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee. Known as the "Jackie Robinson of Rodeo", Dightman was the first African-American to compete at the National Finals Rodeo.

Early life

Dightman was born on May 7, 1935, on a 4,000-acre ranch in Houston County near Crockett, Texas.[1] His father worked for rancher Karl Leediker.[1]

Career

Dightman started his career in rodeo in Houston.[1] In 1964, he became the first black cowboy to compete at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). He qualified for the NFR in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1972.[2] In 1967, he had the best year-end finish of his career by placing third in the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) world standings.[3] In 1971, he won Cheyenne Frontier Days.[4]

Dightman was hired to do stunts and play as himself in the rodeo movies J.W. Coop and Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner in 1971.[1] [5]

Dightman was a big influence on Charlie Sampson. In October 2006, a benefit concert featuring Michael Martin Murphey and Don Edwards was held to raise funds for a bronze statue in his honor. It was placed at the entrance of the Porth Ag Arena in Crockett, Texas. This rodeo arena hosts the annual Labor Day Rodeo that bears his name.[6] [7] [8]

Honors

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wallace . Christian . The Jackie Robinson of Rodeo . July 24, 2018 . Texas Monthly . July 2018.
  2. News: The Jackie Robinson of Rodeo. 2018-06-22. Texas Monthly. 2018-07-07.
  3. Web site: ProRodeo - Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. www.prorodeo.com. 3 February 2017.
  4. Web site: History of the PRCA . Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association . September 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200811190559/https://www.prorodeo.com/prorodeo/rodeo/history-of-the-prca . August 11, 2020.
  5. Web site: J W Coop (1971) Full Cast & Crew . IMDB . 31 July 2018.
  6. Web site: Myrtis Dightman Hall of Fame Rodeo . Rodeo USA . 1 August 2018.
  7. News: Boney . Jeffrey . Texan Myrtis Dightman, Sr. Inducted into Bull Riding Hall of Fame . 1 August 2018 . Houston Forward Times . Houston Forward Times . June 1, 2016 . houstonforwardtimesdightman.
  8. Web site: Wallace . Christian . On the Enduring Legacy of the Black Cowboy . Amtrak The National . Ink . 1 August 2018 . AmtrakthenationalBlackCowboy.
  9. Web site: Guy Weadick Award Winners . Calgary Stampede . April 8, 2020.
  10. News: Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 17 May 2017.
  11. Web site: Inductees. Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. 3 February 2017.
  12. Web site: Inductees. National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame. 3 February 2017.
  13. Web site: PBR Ring of Honor. Professional Bull Riders. August 18, 2023.
  14. Web site: Myrtis Dightman. November 19, 2010 . Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Fort Worth Texas. 17 May 2017.
  15. Web site: Bull Riding Hall of Fame inductees. Bull Riding Hall of Fame. August 19, 2023.
  16. Web site: Myrtis Dightman. ProRodeo Hall of Fame. 18 January 2017.

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