Myrtis Dightman

Last updated
Myrtis Dightman
Born (1935-05-07) May 7, 1935 (age 89)
Houston County, Texas, United States
Other names"Jackie Robinson of Rodeo"
OccupationBull rider
Known forRodeo
SpouseFannie Mae (div.)
Parent(s)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. [1]

Contents

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. [2] [4]

Dightman was hired to do stunts and play as himself in the rodeo movies J.W. Coop (1972) directed by Cliff Robertson, and Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner (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. The statute 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

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References

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

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