ProRodeo Sports News - January 22, 2021

together on a modified brace that went under his chin and down his back to allow him to compete. “It would have been smarter for me not to do that, but it’s hard to go from thinking you’re the best bareback rider in the world to being unable to walk – and I was only 23 years old, and you’re not real smart when you’re 23,” Logue said. During rehab, Dr. J. Pat Evans asked Logue what kind of work Logue planned to do after recovering. “I said, ‘You know what I’m going to do, I’m a bareback rider,’ and he said, ‘You’re kidding me,’” Logue laughed. “I was just motivated to get back and do what I needed to fulfill my destiny.” That attitude wasn’t out of character for the young cowboy. “The whole ticket about Bob is he loves the Lord,” Ford said. “People might not think about it when they see how wild he is, but he has a good heart.” Nearly 40 years later, Logue’s hands still get “a little fuzzy,” and scars on his head are a reminder of where the brace held his head in place. Although he hadn’t received a clean bill of health, 363 days later he entered the 1984 Pendleton Round-up and posted a 66-point ride. He followed that by winning the average in Puyallup, Wash. BACK ON BOARD

Sue Rosoff photo Logue bounced back from paralysis to qualify for the NFR multiple times. Before his injury, he qualified in 1980-83. After, he qualified in 1985, 1988, 1991 and 1992.

“In bareback riding, there’s a freedom about it and you have to be mentally and physically tough,” Logue said. “I guess it’s kind of the Green Berets or the SEAL Team of rodeo.” Despite being unable to compete at the 1983 NFR, Logue still finished in the Top 15. Incredibly, he made just as many NFR qualifications after overcoming paralysis as before, qualifying in 1980-83 and again in 1985, 1988, 1991-92. “I was lifted up by seeing the joy he had,” Ford said. “It was wonderful to work off each other.” Logue’s ProRodeo bareback riding career spanned from 1977-2000. Monetarily it was worth $737,583, but for him it was worth far more. “When I was 10 years old I knew I wanted to rodeo and go to the NFR,” Logue said. “Everyone wants to win the world, but when I broke my neck in 1983 that deterred that plan a bit, but I was able to make the Finals a few more times and that was almost like a gold buckle for me. When the doctors say you might never walk again but you go to the NFR four more times it’s pretty rewarding.” LIFE AFTER RODEO The 2000 National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver was Logue’s final ProRodeo competition, and he rode his final horse in Greeley, Colo., in July 2000. Logue worked as a representative for Montana Silversmiths in 2002 and switched to Justin Brands in 2008. He now represents Tony Lama and Nacona Boots. “I always knew I wanted to rodeo, and after that I wanted to be a sales rep, preferably a boot sales rep,” Logue said. Logue, 61, lives in Cumby, Texas, with his wife, Holly. They have three children and three grandchildren and a fourth on the way. He teaches others how to compete in rodeo. His first student, bareback rider Lance Crump, was a five-time NFR qualifier (1992-93, 1995-97). “There are others, but he’s the one I’mmost proud of,” Logue said. “He’s a preacher now and did my mom’s funeral earlier this month.” Logue holds safety clinics in Fort Worth, Texas, a couple times a year for kids who want to know more about rodeo. “We may or may not get bareback riders out of the deal, but they’ll know what bareback riding is about and it creates fans,” Logue said. “We do some coaching too and go through all the safety aspects of it and the techniques – and we tell them it isn’t for sissies.”

Photo courtesy of Bob Logue Bob Logue works as a representative for Tony Lama and Nacona Boots and helps teach kids about rodeo a couple of times a year in Fort Worth, Texas.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/22/2021

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