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Following
graduation, I attended Kemper Military School and Junior College,
Boonville, MO; and University of Missouri – Columbia, School of
Journalism. I am a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
As time went by, I found myself writing for several livestock and horse
publications including the Quarter Horse Journal, Western Horseman, and
Saddle & Bridle. I was also employed by the American Quarter Horse
Association during this same time period. I often worked as sales manager
and ring man for many top registered quarter horse sales throughout the
country.
On October 25, 1963, Janice Elaine Ivey and I were married, and lived in
Belton/Lee’s Summit area several years before relocating to Oklahoma. I
have been employed in the explosive business (Gulf Oil, William Bros.
Pipeline, Slurry Explosives Corporation, and Buckley Powder) for over 40
years, and as such, I traveled extensively in the U.S., Canada, and
Bahamas. During my years of working in explosives, I served as President
of the OZARK Chapter of International Society of Explosive Engineers.
Janice and I have lived in Oklahoma including a stint in Texas for over 30
years. For over 10 years, I have been active in the rodeo production in
Pryor, and have watched it grow into winning awards as Rodeo of the Year
for the past 10 years. I still raise, breed, train and sell quarter
horses, and have produced several horses that have competed and won on the
national level. I am also a member of the Senior Pro Rodeo Association and
the American Quarter Horse Association. I also served as President of the
Northeast Oklahoma Performance Horse Breeders Association for 11 years,
and each year, I manage an auction for our members.
Janice and I had three children: Jamie Elaine, deceased; Jeffrey Leon
(Jeff) - 38, Electrician; and Jonathan Patrick (Jon Pat) - 35, Industrial
Maintenance. We have five grandchildren: Tyler 17; Chelsea 16; Todd
Patrick 13; Jonathan Taylor - 8; and Jaycee Keen- 8. Granddaughter,
Chelsea, is an accomplished team roper and competes in Junior and Senior
High School rodeos. Chelsea is good enough to rope with her dad, Jeff, and
Uncle Jon, who are both champion team ropers. Jeff won All State High
School Championship Team Roper and Jon Pat won American Junior Quarter
Horse Association Team Roper. Chelsea has won a room full of trophies and
belt buckles. All 5 of our grandchildren are very athletic (football,
soccer, baseball) and keep everyone very busy. Tyler is also very involved
in the Pryor high school band, both symphony and marching band, and this
past year, his band was invited to play in a bowl game.
Janice is an active partner with me in both horse and company businesses,
and we enjoy going to Vegas, Reno, and the National Finals Rodeo each
year.
I find myself slowing down as I can’t stand the “wrecks” that go along
with breaking horses and rodeoing. I think I have a 19 year old brain in
a 67 year old body. Lots of times, it doesn’t work, but I hope to do it as
long as I can.
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