Charles Sampson (bull rider)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles "Charlie" Sampson (born July 2, 1957) is the 1982 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Champion bull rider.[1] He is the first African American cowboy to win a world championship in professional rodeo. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1996.

Early life[]

Sampson was born in Los Angeles, California on July 2, 1957. To avoid the violence that surrounded him as a boy, he took a job at a riding stables near Gardena, California. There he sparked an interest in horses and rodeo. He was a fan of the famous African-American bull rider, Myrtis Dightman, who was known as the "Jackie Robinson of Rodeo".[2]

Career[]

Sampson stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall. He was a ground breaking rodeo cowboy. He was the first Afro-American to win a world title in the PRCA.[3] In 1983, there were only six black members of the PRCA. Sampson was competing on a national level. Sampson very rarely mentioned race as an issue, even though he was competing in a sport dominated by white competitors. Sampson once said in The New York Times, "I haven't encountered discrimination as much as ignorance. Some people still don't realize that something like a quarter of all the cowboys back in the old West were black."[4]

Injuries[]

He is known for his many injuries as well. Sampson's left calf has 17 pins and two metal plates. In the New York Times Magazine, Sampson noted, "In 1983, a bull jerked me down and cracked my skull--I broke every bone in my face except my nose. I broke my ankle, my leg, my sternum, my wrist. In '88, I had an ear ripped off when a bull ran over me and his foot caught my hat."[5] He shattered his face in a riding accident in front of Ronald Reagan. His PRCA career lasted almost 20 years, with 11 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) trips.

Retirement[]

He retired at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1994.[6] He spent his retirement doing ads for companies like Wrangler Jeans and Timex. In 1996, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.[6]

Wins and awards[]

  • World Champion bull rider, 1982[1]
  • bull riding champion, 1984[6]
  • Turquoise Circuit bull riding champion, 1985���86 and 1993.[6]
  • Copenhagen/Skoal bull riding champion, 1992
  • Calgary Stampede $50,000 bonus round bull riding champion
  • 2-time bull riding champion at Pendleton Round-Up
  • 2-time Grand National Rodeo (Cow Palace) champion
  • 2-time bull riding champion at California Rodeo Salinas
  • 2-time winner of Del Rio George Paul Memorial bull-riding buckle[7]
  • Rodeo Superstars Championship

Honors[]

Personal life[]

Sampson attended Central Arizona College. Sampson married Marilyn Casmon in 1984. Casmon hailed from Big Spring, Texas. The Sampsons had two sons: Laurence Charles who was born in 1984, and Daniel Carl who was born in 1988. They made their home in Aurora, Colorado.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Tumlin, Tim (December 13, 1982). "Two-Event Californian Wins Rodeo Title". Farmington Daily Times. Associated Press. Retrieved March 6, 2016.open access
  2. ^ Wallace, Christian (June 22, 2018). "The Jackie Robinson of Rodeo". Texas Monthly. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  3. ^ Carr, Steve (July 6, 1984). "Sampson doesn't dwell on accident; it's history". The Courier. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  4. ^ Ravo, Nick (April 29, 1993). "In the Chute with: Charles Sampson; 8-Second Workweek Has Its Ups and Downs". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  5. ^ Coplon, Jeff (April 12, 1992). "Riding Ugly". The New York Times Magazine. p. 61.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Charles Sampson". ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  7. ^ "Charles Sampson". George Paul Memorial Bullriding Del Rio Texas. www.georgepaulmemorialbullriding.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "Class of 2019". The Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  9. ^ "Charles Sampson | Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame". erhof.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  10. ^ "Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  11. ^ "National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame - Charles Sampson". Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  12. ^ "Sampson, Charles 1957". Encyclopedia.com. www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved March 28, 2019.

Retrieved from ""