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.”
