NSPRA member Ricky Phillips
- courtesy of the family
Meet the Member – Ricky Phillips
NSPRA member Ricky Phillips – courtesy of the family
story by Terry Rhodes
As a direct result of Ricky Phillips’ success in rodeo, he earned a full-ride college scholarship that enabled him to obtain teaching credentials and have a 30-year-career that he has since retired from. “I went to Tarleton State and got my degree in industrial arts. Then I went back and got a degree in computer science. A bull rider with a degree in computer science; now that’s an oxymoron, isn’t it? Really, with the way machines are connected to computers, you need to understand the computer side of it.” But starting out Ricky gives credit for his rodeo career to his brother-in-law. “I was 9 years old and he’d put me on calves and steers. I just kept on growing and going from there.” He says that his friend, Randy Majors is the one that taught him the most and helped him develop his riding skills. “I was a kid in Fort Worth at the time and he was there with Donnie Gay. Randy asked if I wanted to go to Cassville, Mo. I was 14 and I said, ‘Shoot, yeah.’”
Ricky will be the bull riding event director for the Senior Pro in 2016. He brings to the table a lot experience, knowledge, and success to draw upon to fulfill his duties. Ricky’s first year in the association was 2000 and he walked off with the 2002 Bull Riding Championship for the 40’s age group. He took some time off and came back in 2013 to win the 50’s Bull Riding Champion and the SNFR Average. In 2014 he claimed the SNFR Reserve 50’s Bull Riding Championship. He also holds a membership in the WSBRA (World Senior Bull Riders Association).
Ricky says that the Senior Pro Association is a great organization to be part of. “I just like all the people and the traveling that you do going to rodeos. You can go to Canada to California and back to Texas. You get to see the country that way. I rodeoed in the PRCA for 15 years and that was just traveling too fast to enjoy the scenery.”
Ricky Phillips has the distinction of riding the same bull that killed Lane Frost. His name was Takin’Care of Business and was part of the string owned by Bad Company Rodeo. Ricky explains, “I was the next bull rider to get on him after Lane died. I’ve drawn him seven times and won first seven times. It was just a freak accident; what happened to Lane. But it did start the use of vests and that was a good thing.”After the tragic loss of Frost in ‘89, the bull went on to have a great rodeo career going to the NFR in 1989 and 1990.
When Ricky is getting ready to nod his head he makes sure that he’s ready to react – not think. “When you start thinking on a bull, you’ll be behind their moves. You have to just react to what the bull is doing. You have to ride by instinct. Some of the best rides that I have made, I don’t remember because I’m that focused on reacting to the bull.”
Ricky calls Boyd, Texas home. Goals for the future are to continue to rodeo and serve as the event director. “I’m planning on going to about 30 rodeos this year.”
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 […]
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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
