The Jackie Robinson of bull riding

Today, in theaters all around the country, moviegoers will see the just released "42" ― the much-talked about and equally important biopic of the late Jackie Robinson. Robinson broke baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947, when he made his Major League Baseball debut as a first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Hand-chosen by Branch Rickey, Robinson was the right man, at the right time. But there have been many men and women who played equally important roles in an effort to secure equal rights and equal treatment for all people regardless of their nationality and gender. Many of their stories are lesser known, but in no way are they less important. One such person is Myrtis Dightman, who is widely regarded as "the Jackie Robinson of bull riding." Dightman, who will turn 78 on May 7, grew up in Crockett, Texas, where he still lives today, and in 1966 he became the first black rodeo cowboy to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo as one of the Top 15 professional bull riders in the world. Dightman was not the first the black cowboy to compete, but he was the first to seriously contend for a world title. Despite the obstacles he qualified for the NFR seven times and finished third in the world standings in 1967 and again in 1968. His most notable career win came late in his career when, in 1972, he won the bull riding event at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo...more