PRORODEO Sports News - July 2, 2026

RECENT PASSINGS

and the Calgary Stampede and in Fort Worth, Denver and Houston, along with Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Salinas, California. In 1959, Porter became the first Louisiana cowboy to participate in the inaugural National Finals Rodeo. He was a member of the Wrangler Rodeo Team in the early 1950s, and his silhouette was placed on the back pocket of every pair of Wrangler jeans put on sale for years. His career earnings were over $100,000 in 22 years. In a May 1, 1963, column, Shreveport Journal sports editor Jimmy Bullock called him “the Pelican State’s Mr. Rodeo” and said he was “famed as one of the nation’s fore most calf ropers.” In 1978, the PRCA presented him with his gold membership card and a plaque in appreciation of his promotion of the sport of rodeo at the high school, collegiate and pro levels. As an advocate for the Louisiana high school rodeo athletes, he lobbied for funding to help them compete at the national level. He worked as a volunteer timed-event barrier judge for every high school rodeo in Louisiana from the early 1960s until 1976. During this time, he also worked as a volunteer timed-event barrier for nine National High School Rodeos —1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975. His ranch provided teaching opportunities and even temporary lodging for cowboys of all ages for decades. A Lions Club member for over 70 years, he served on many local and state project committees and held many offices. The Lions Camp for Handicapped Children was the dearest to him. As a cattleman, he served on many com mittees and offices on the local, state, and national Cat tleman’s Association. He has been on many Farm Bureau local and state committees. As a cattleman, he operated a 250 head cow-calf operation. He was one of the working cowboys that loaded the last load of Gray Ranch steers to leave Louisiana on railcars. Born in Pineville, La., March 9, 1927, Porter landed in Leesville two years later when his parents moved the fami ly so his father could work at a Texaco gas station. They lived in the back of the filling station. On site was a small roping pen, and it was there that T. Berry Porter would perfect his skills that would one day lead him to become a champion. “I don’t remember when I started roping, I just always did it,” he said in a 2019 interview with the LSWA’s Ray mond Partsch III. “There are still folks at the Lion’s Club

here that call me the ‘goat roper.’” That’s because, at the age of three, he won the goat-rop ing competition at the Vernon Parish Fair – signaling the start of a career that he honed as a youngster and through out high school. Of his LSHOF induction as the first rodeo figure, Porter said; “It is a very humbling honor. … Not many people can be the very first anything nowadays. I always thought that somebody else was better than me or more deserving than me.” Porter also made rodeo a family affair as all four of his children – daughters Judy, Cathy, Lindy, and son David – became high school and amateur rodeo champions. That was passed down to his grandchildren as well. T. Barrett was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy; his mother and father, Elsie and J. A. Porter; sister, Juanita Porter Gabro and husband Leon, and Abby Bordelon Cryer, stepdaughter. He is survived by his wife, Pat; daughters, Judy (Cleve); Cathy; and Lindy (Brian); and son, David (Monya). Grandchildren: Randi Taylor (James), Traci Todd (Jennifer), Terri Bowles (Nick), Cher yl Neubert (Tommy), J.W. Todd (Sarah), Troy Bennett, Karra Aymond (David), and Trace Porter (Hannah); 21 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sharon Thompson (Jim); stepchildren: Bobby Bordelon (Renee), Tommy Bordelon (Debbie), Gene Bordelon (Ann); step-grandchil dren: Justin Cryer (Carley), Josh Cryer (Lacy), Brenna Bordelon, Bryce Bordelon (Brooke), Lindsey Bordelon and Edward Bordelon.

July 2, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 55