ProRodeo Sports News - August 6, 2021

COWBOY ROOTS

Photos courtesy C. Thomas Howell Above: Howell shows off buckles he won recently. Below: Howell grew up competing in multiple events as a kid, including riding steers.

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don’t like this guy,’ but there are a some kids that are like, ‘Wow, I like this,’ from around the world, and ‘I dig what you’re doing and I dig the horses and I love that you’re a cowboy.’ “And I get little girls coming up to me and saying, ‘Thank you, I run barrels but I keep it a secret at school because I don’t want to be teased, but now I don’t care anymore, and I’m proud of who I am.’” AMONG THE COWBOYS Howell is hoping that musical connection will educate those who aren’t around rodeo and who have preconceived notions. And growing up around rodeo and around Hollywood, Howell has heard and seen both viewpoints. “It’s important to have somebody who is – and it’s a rare thing, it’s a tough thing – because we have people on either side who are very educated from where they’re from, but we don’t have a lot of people who have experienced both and can bridge the gap,” Howell said. “I’m not saying I’m the guy, I’m just saying that’s what needs to happen.” The cowboys Howell was around as a boy make for an impressive list. “We used to rope in these things called juniors-seniors and I used to head for Allen Bach andWalt Woodard. I grew up around Clay O’Brien Cooper,” Howell said. “These are my people.” Plus, his family had plenty of ties to ProRodeo.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

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