Written by: pam minick

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The team roping world mourns the loss of former NFR Team Roping champion Rickey Green at 61 years of age.  Rickey passed away Wednesday, October 10 at his home in Stephenville, Texas after a brief illness.  Green qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 10 times, winning the NFR Average in 1988 with Charles Pogue.  He has won all the major PRCA rodeos, and also won the prestigious Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping.  Rickey loved the challenge of roping steers quick, often before they were completely turned off by the header, and it is said that the “Crossfire” rule in Team Roping was implemented in part because of his roping style.

He has also trained 7 NFR Team Roping horses and an AQHA Superior Team Roping horse.

Not only one of the great Team Roping heelers of all time, since 1991, he has completely concentrated on making learning to team rope fun for others.  He has become one of the best-known and qualified team roping instructors around the world.  A special interest in novice, youth, and even senior ropers, the stories of Rickey’s passion for helping others become successful would fill volumes, and nothing made Rickey more proud than to see one of his students succeed.

In 2001 Rickey came out with the first video in a series called Knowledge and Techniques for Power Team Roping.  His website “Rickey Green’s Power Team Roping” provides the most viewed team roping instructional videos.

Rickey’s wife, Kelly, also a top horsewoman was the videographer and editor of his team roping videos.  Rickey was so proud when she shifted  her equestrian skills from team roping to jumping horses.  He was her biggest cheerleader, and in fact traded a roping horse for one of Kelly’s jumping horses.  Their daughter Whitney recently graduated from Texas A & M university and is working on a Masters Degree.

The family team roping roots run deep.  Rickey’s dad Virgil has a sister Darlene, married to World Champion Team Roper Walt Woodard; and brother Vernon, who is the father of Daniel and Chris Green.  Rickey and his dad spent the summer going to Team Ropings and putting on schools.

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame honoree Billy Minick said “ Rickey dedicated himself to helping other people and taking a deep interest in them.  He made everyone feel like a champion.  In all the years I’ve been around him, I’ve never heard him say a bad word about anyone.  His smile lit up the room, and his sense of humor made everyone at ease with him.”

Per Rickey’s wishes, there will be no service and the family requests memorials be sent to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.