By Lindsay Humphrey
Competing in the NSPRA as a bull rider in his 60s was never on the agenda for Tim McNeil. That is, of course, until it was. “When I was 59 a friend of mine told me that I should join him on the senior circuit,” said the Peoria, Arizona, native and USMC Veteran. It’s been a bumpy ride for Tim in his first few years of senior rodeo. In August 2019, after pulling a rope on a bull, Tim attempted to exit the arena but not before getting flung into the fence. Naturally, Tim jumped up and walked out of the arena only to ask for a band aid to put on the cut on his head. Everyone watching knew his injuries were more than a band aid could handle. “Just before that bull ran me over, we looked each other in the eyes, and it turns out he broke my neck in two places and my back in three. I was laid off riding for the rest of that year, but I did qualify for the 2019 SNFR in Duncan, Oklahoma.”
When Tim came back in early 2020, he was itching to slide his hand under a bull rope again. To catch up, Tim hit all the rodeos he could and ended up being the NSPRA reserve world champion that year. He also went to enough PSRA events to win a world championship title in the bull riding. “Towards the end of the season, at the 2020 SNFR in Southwest City, Missouri, I passed out in the arena during a ride. Everyone said I was holding my breath, but I didn’t think I was.” Tim was fine through the winter but once he started riding bulls again in 2021, he continued to pass out. An EMT told Tim he had a severe heart murmur that he needed to get checked out.
“I’ve had a heart murmur my whole life, but I went to the doctor anyway.” One of Tim’s valves was only opening 8% of its total capacity to allow blood through. To add insult to injury, he also had blood clots. “The doctor told me it wouldn’t be a big deal if I just quit riding bulls. I wasn’t about to do that.” Tim’s heart specialist gave him a new valve without the invasive surgery. Tim couldn’t compete while he was taking blood thinners, but he continued to attend every NSPRA event but now he was just helping hands wherever he was needed. Tim was awarded the 2021 True Grit Award presented by his fellow NSPRA competitors.
Finally good as new at 63, Tim is taking on 2022 like it’s his last chance to rodeo. “Every year since I started, my wife (Dana) has told me that it should be my last. Now that I’m finally healthy it might be my last one, but we’ll see.” The NSPRA has become quite the bonding experience for the McNeil family. Dana works for RS Rodeo as the spokesperson, an announcer and secretary. She’ll even sing the national anthem when needed. As for their daughter, Tayler, she also works for RS Rodeo and is a published roughstock photographer. Sons Tim Jr. and Lucas don’t come to nearly as many rodeos as Dana and Tayler, but that’s all circumstantial. “Lucas is in Japan with the Marine Corps. He started riding bulls about the same time I did then he joined the Marines. Tim Jr is at as many rodeos as he can get to, especially the ones close to home. “We all got involved and it’s been a blessing. “My inspiration is my traveling partner, Will Rogers, and my family. We hit the road this year and we’re going at it hard; we’re going to all of the rodeos that we can get to.”
