ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

NOTABLE

Jerome Robinson Cowboy did much

to promote sport, PRCA

QUICK FACTS • Born on Oct. 16, 1947, in Ogal- lala, Neb. • 11 NFR qualifi- cations (1970-75, ’77 and ’81) • Helped Create PROCOM • Served on the PRCA Board and

the National Finals Rodeo Commission.

PRCA ProRodeo file photo

BY MATT NABER B orn in Ogallala, Neb., in 1947, it didn’t take Jerome Robinson long to decide his life’s goals. At 3 years old he announced that he intended to become a bull rider while attending the National Western Stock Show with his grandmother. At age 15, after years of family discouragement, the trophy for winning a horse race with his father was permission to pursue a rodeo career. Robinson went on to become a cowboy with many hats – a contestant, contractor, event producer, contract personnel and member of the PRCA Board of Directors. With so many titles on his résumé, Robinson is being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as a Notable, a word that perfectly summarizes his career. “I was floored, to be truthful,” Robinson said. “It was completely unexpected knowing all the other people who put into this association. I’m completely humbled by it knowing the other people who have done a lot for this outfit.” Robinson attended Colorado State University to study education but maintained that he really majored in rodeo. He competed with the PRCA for 16 years, starting in 1967, and made 11 trips to the National Finals Rodeo (1970-75, ’77 and ’81). During his time in the professional ranks, Robinson served as the Bull Riding Director on the PRCA Board for four years, vice-president for one, a term on the National Finals Rodeo Commission, and was on the PRCA

research and development committee for the building of the Colorado Springs headquarters and ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Robinson made a lasting contribution to rodeo when in 1975 he helped institute the centralized computer entry system, known today as PROCOM. This system used a computer to implement the rules and guidelines of the PRCA Rulebook and a bank of toll-free phone lines to communicate with rodeo contestants, stock contractors, secretaries and committees. PROCOM consolidated more than 500 individual rodeo entry offices across the nation into one, facilitating a vastly more efficient method of contesting in and producing PRCA rodeos. “If we took notes, it would have crumbled around our ears,” Robinson laughed. “We could have written a book on all of that, but the roof would have caved in on us because there was so much touch and go.” An injury in 1982 took Robinson out of competition for four months but afforded him the opportunity to launch an integrated rodeo production business specializing in indoor rodeos. He handled everything from booking venues, hauling in dirt for the arena, hiring contractors and producing the performance. In 1985, the PRCA asked Robinson to execute the production of the ESPN-televised rodeo series “Winston Tour.” He considers creating PROCOM and starting the Winston Tour to be his most challenging achievements. Of all his accomplishments, Robinson couldn’t pick a favorite. “Serving on the board was definitely educational but just being involved in the lifestyle and the day-to-day of all of it,” Robinson said.

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