HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It was a quiet morning at Bruno’s Triangle 7 Rodeo Enviornment in northeast Houston, however that each one modified when 89-year-old retired bull rider Myrtis Dightman walked into the indoor corridor.
Dightman is a legend within the skilled rodeo world.
He was the primary Black cowboy to qualify for the Nationwide Finals Rodeo and is understood worldwide because the “Jackie Robinson of Rodeo.”
Inside minutes of assembly our ABC13 crew, it did not take lengthy for the crew to comprehend that even at nearly 90 years outdated, bull using remains to be on Dightman’s thoughts. He jokingly talked about that he was able to trip bulls once more and even questioned if the almost 2,000-pound beasts have been nonetheless prepared for him.
Dightman began using bulls at round 22 years outdated.
“I actually needed to do one thing not too many extra Blacks have been doing,” he stated. “I noticed how the man pulled a rope and issues, and I stated to myself, ‘I can try this.'”
Dightman lives in Houston now, however he grew up in Crockett, Texas, throughout segregation. His mother and father have been involved about him touring and competing then.
“My mom did not need me to trip bulls as a result of they figured the white people aren’t going to allow you to, and they’ll get you in bother and all that, ,” Dightman stated.
“I stated, ‘Effectively, hey, you do not know till you strive,’ and as soon as I attempted, white people helped me out,” Dightman informed ABC13.
He stated he acquired a number of assist from white folks as he traveled to compete.
“Quite a lot of them helped me do it,” he stated. “Quite a lot of locations I could not go as a result of I did not have transportation to get the place the rodeo was, in order that they’d take me.”
He admits that he did endure some racism, however it by no means saved him off the bull. For 40 years, Dightman traveled the world competing.
“Canada, New York, I have been all over the place using bulls,” he stated.
In 1964, Dightman was the primary Black cowboy to qualify for essentially the most prestigious rodeo competitors, the Nationwide Finals Rodeo.
He retired in 1989, however simply when Dightman thought he’d taken his final trip in an enviornment, Beyoncé known as.
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In movies from Beyoncé’s 2024 Christmas Day halftime present, Dightman could be seen using shotgun in a white Cadillac – his trip only one automotive forward of Beyonce’s white Cadillac. The celebrity honored legendary Black cowboys and cowgirls at NRG Stadium.
“She (Beyonce) did not wish to trip no bull, she needed to trip in a Cadillac,” he stated, jokingly.
Myrtis Dightman usually displays on his life and profession.
“You recognize, I had an awesome life,” he stated. I am simply one other man, and I ain’t no higher than no one.”
On the subject of his legacy, he informed ABC13 that he simply desires folks to recollect him as “only a bull rider”.
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