ProRodeo Sports News July 9, 2021

BULL RIDER

PRCA ProRodeo file photo

Butch Kirby Kirby reaches ‘outer space’ with Hall nod BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI G ary William “Butch” Kirby is joining his heroes. But he doesn’t believe he should be among them. And as a kid, he was too worried about his mom finding out he was riding bulls. In 1978, roughstock world champions were decided by money won at the National Finals Rodeo. Kirby took advantage of that rule, earning $15,000 at the NFR that year to claim the bull riding world title. Kirby qualified for the NFR eight times (1973-75, 1977-78, 1980-82). In addition to his world title, he also finished third twice and fifth once. On July 17, Kirby will be going into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in the bull riding category, joining the heroes he grew up adoring. Kirby started trick riding at 4 years old. of Fame. A number of people talked to me over the years. I said I didn’t want to go in the Hall of Fame. It’s not that I didn’t want to go, but I don’t look at myself as being a hero.” Originally born in Salem, N.J., Kirby made Stephenville, Texas, his hometown. In 1975, he and his brothers Sandy and Kaye were the first trio of brothers to qualify for the Finals in the same year, with Butch qualifying in bull riding, Kaye in bareback riding and Sandy in both of those events.

“... I knew I could earn $1,500 for working eight seconds or I could earn nothing.”

– BUTCH KIRBY

All three were trick riders before going on to careers in ProRodeo. Performing as a kid helped Kirby and his brothers with their rodeo success. “I trick rode on some bulls,” he said. “I got hung up. In the trick riding you would do double vaults, your feet hit the ground and you would vault to the other side. Sometimes I tell kids (today), if you’re hung up on a bull, stay on your feet. That’ll balance you.” That teaching is part of Kirby’s mentality, whether he’s teaching how to ride or how to judge. “I look at myself as being a world champion and a pro official judging rodeos,” he said. “… I was taught at a young age it’s what you leave behind.”

“I’d been in rodeo since I was 4, Roman riding,” Kirby said. “My heroes in life were bull riders. I always wanted to be a bull rider. That was not good with my mother. I used to get on with a football helmet, not because I was scared I was going to get on a bull, but because I was scared she was going to find out.” Kirby still hasn’t quit rodeo. Instead, he became a pro official for 29 years for the PRCA and judged the NFR for 28 years. “The Hall of Fame I never really thought about,” he said. “Those were my heroes. That was in outer space. I didn’t think that much that I’d be in the Hall

ProRodeo Sports News 7/9/2021

ProRodeo.com

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