Meet the Member Jim Persinger
story by Laura Martin When Jim Persinger discovered the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association in 2012, feeling like he could still compete at the age […]
Dennis McKinley began competing in the NSPRA rodeos in 2006 and likes going to and competing in the rodeos. “It’s a social event because of the people you meet and I get to see people that I rodeoed with years ago in the PRCA in the ‘70s. I also like that you’re competing with people your own age. In the calf roping and team roping associations you’re given a handicap number but you’re still competing with people of all ages.”
He competes in the calf roping, men’s breakaway, ribbon roping, and sometimes in the team roping. In the course of Dennis’s Senior Pro career he has won numerous titles including NSPRA World Calf Roping for the 60’s division in 2007 and 2014, NSPRA World Ribbon Roping for the 60’s division in 2014, NSPRA World Calf Roping for 68+ in 2013 and then repeated in 2014, and NSPRA Reserve World Calf Roping for the 60’s in 2008. He has also won Finals averages in 2014 in his three events, and averages in 2009 and 2008. He’s also a member of the Ultimate Calf Roping Association, the USTRC, and holds a PRCA Gold Card.
Dennis grew up on a ranch in New Mexico in the rodeo environment. “Both of my parent’s families were from New Mexico and my dad rodeoed. I’d tag along with him to rodeos in the ‘50s and ‘60s. They didn’t have junior rodeo when I was growing up. My rodeo career didn’t really start until I returned from Viet Nam and received a rodeo scholarship to Casper College. I was 23 when I started college and I went to the college Finals three times. After graduating from Casper College I went to Black Hills State College and won the central regional title in my last year of eligibility.” His major was ag business and ag economics. He says that Barry Burk was the person that helped him the most with his rodeo competition. “He helped with my roping and taught me how to win.”
Dennis makes sure that he is ready to compete when he gets to a rodeo. “I don’t practice a lot, but I do practice enough that I am confident in what I can do and I know my horse is ready. You have to have a good horse; you’re not going to win much if you don’t have a good horse. It helps to have confidence that you can beat anybody there. I’ll look at the score and calves and then just focus on what I need to do. More than anything, staying focused is the most important part for me. After you leave the box, it’s just reacting and roping.”
He took a 20 year hiatus from rodeo to go into a ministry. After a very successful PRCA career where he won or placed in every major PRCA rodeo and nearly made the NFR. Dennis says that Jesus Christ is his biggest influence. “I have my own ministry called Western World Missions. I also work for the Christian Broadcasting Network started by Pat Robertson. I’m the representative for Pat Robertson in west Texas and that keeps me on the road a lot.”
Dennis now calls San Angelo, Texas home and has four grown children and nine grandchildren. Leisure time is spent relaxing at his home, grooming the arena and working horses. “I have a set of golf clubs and there’s real nice golf course nearby. But I tell people that would get in the way of riding my horses and I hardly do that enough.” Dennis’s goal for the future is to, “…continue to serve the Lord in whatever capacity that he wants me to.”
story by Laura Martin When Jim Persinger discovered the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association in 2012, feeling like he could still compete at the age […]
story by Lindsay Humphrey By definition, Laura Lambert was born into rodeo. Both her parents competed professionally; her dad, Dale Motley, primarily in calf roping […]
story by Lindsay Humphrey Deployments were never a good reason to keep a rope out of Val Baker’s hands during her time with the Air […]
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Rodeo Life Magazine™ (ISSN 1934-5224) is located at P.O. Box 93598 Southlake, TX 76092. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rodeo Life Media, P.O. Box 93598 Southlake, TX 76092
February 12, 2021
40 BAREBACK RIDING
1 Jasen Olsen (50) 63
2 Cody Miller (40) 53
40 Barrel Racing
1 Kim Coleman (40) 288
2 Laura Lambert (40) 238
3 Nikkie Miller (40) 158
4 April Denny (40) 80
40 Bull Riding
1 Jackson Stoney (40) 140
2 Roque Velarde (40) 62
3 David Kingsbury (40) 52
40-59 Ribbon Roping (Roper)
1 Ricky Lambert (50) 197
2 Rob Black (60) 168
3 Dirt Terrell (50) 148
4 Mike Collins (60) 118
5 Brian Garr (40) 108
6 Jeff Frizzell (50) 69
7 Phil Treadway (50) 68
8 Bill Sharber (60) 29
9 David Hencratt (50) 20
40-59 Ribbon Roping (Runner)
1 Sherry Terrell (40) 207
2 Laura Lambert (40) 197
3 Nikkie Miller (40) 168
4 Wendy Collins (50) 118
5 Lynn Ray (50) 87
6 Renee Freeland (50) 59
7 Dirt Terrell (50) 59
8 Michelle Ranells (40) 29
40-59 Team Roping (Header)
1 Jason Thorstenson (40) 336.5
2 Bill Sharber (60) 159
3 Jerod Teller (50) 155.5
4 Marty Howard (50) 107.5
5 Mike Freeland (60) 75
6 Ricky Lambert (50) 51.5
40-59 Team Roping (Heeler)
1 Shotgun Passig (50) 235.5
2 Cole Ivy (50) 214.5
3 Ryan Pratt (40) 160.5
4 Butch Terrell (60) 54.5
40-59 Tiedown
1 Brian Garr (40) 221
2 Jeff Frizzell (50) 179
3 Homer Sanders (40) 103
4 Ricky Lambert (50) 76
5 Todd Danley (50) 73
6 Trent Tidwell (40) 53
7 Dirt Terrell (50) 47
8 Phil Treadway (50) 37
50 Bareback Riding
1 Dustin Brown (50) 62
50 Barrel Racing
1 Renee Freeland (50) 248
2 Brenda Howard (50) 208
3 Wendy Collins (50) 178
4 Jan Kortsen (50) 140
5 Lynn Ray (50) 88
6 Danaye Eaton (50) 79
7 Debb Davis (50) 59
8 Becky Teller (50) 49
9 Cecilia Bolton (50) 19
50 Bull Riding
1 Shane Elliott (50) 65
60 Barrel Racing
1 Jeanne Davis (60) 260
2 Vicky Brookman (60) 210
3 Tammy Smith (60) 150
4 Becky Rus (60) 150
5 Marge Freeland (60) 130
60 Bull Riding
1 Timothy Mcniel (60) 116
2 Lyle Hogue (60) 63
60 Ribbon Roping (Roper)
1 Dale Rising (60) 124
2 Jack Garr (60) 52
60 Ribbon Roping (Runner)
1 Tammy Smith (60) 124
2 Carol Garr (60) 52
60 Team Roping (Header)
1 Fred Ennist (60) 246
2 Dale Whitlow (60) 205.5
3 Ron Phelan (60) 197.5
4 Rob Black (60) 147.5
5 Bill Sharber (60) 147.5
6 Jesse Marshall (60) 108
7 Mike Boyle (60) 78
8 Mike Freeland (60) 48
9 Dan Johnson (60) 40
10 John Clymo (60) 38
60 Team Roping (Heeler)
1 Walter Bob Baxter (60) 323.5
2 Jerry Mccommas (60) 158
3 Mike Clancy (60) 155.5
4 Willy Kelton (60) 98
5 Ty Morrill (60) 87.5
6 Roger Rasner (60) 80
7 Fred Davis (60) 69.5
8 Curt Johnston (60) 49.5
60 Tiedown
1 Mike Collins (60) 200
2 Bill Sharber (60) 180
3 Rob Black (60) 150
4 Jack Garr (60) 90
5 Jerry Martin (60) 60
6 John Clymo (60) 60
7 Bruce Contway (60) 50
8 Ross Contway (50) 40
68 Tiedown
1 Fw Lynch (60) 261
2 Dan Johnson (60) 145
3 Curt Johnston (60) 111
4 Ray Yamauchi (60) 101
5 Ray Jim (60) 36
6 Dale Rising (60) 26
Ladies Breakaway
1 Danaye Eaton (50) 133
2 Cindy Gruwell (50) 113
3 Brenda Howard (50) 91
4 Teri James (50) 71
5 Tammy Smith (60) 61
6 Becky Teller (50) 57
7 Lynn Ray (50) 41
8 Wendy Collins (50) 31
9 Renee Freeland (50) 22
Men’s Breakaway
1 Curt Johnston (60) 256
2 John Clymo (60) 176
3 Fw Lynch (60) 167
4 Jerry Martin (60) 136
5 Ray Yamauchi (60) 127
6 Bob Martin (60) 108
7 Stacey Evans (60) 48
8 Dale Rising (60) 19