Computer teacher making 'geeks' out of rodeo bulls

By MANDY JOHN | Central Texas Edition

Phillips proudly holds up his 2002 National Senior Pro Rodeo Champion jacket that he earned while at the Senior National Finals. -Staff photo by Mandy John

December 12, 2002 -- Ricky Phillips, the 42-year-old Gatesville Junior High computer literature teacher, recently received top honors at this year's Senior National Finals Rodeo, which took place in Reno, NV from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. Phillips won the world champion title for the Senior Pro Rodeo Association in the 40- to 50-year-old division.

"I have been doing this since I was nine-years-old and I just love it," he stated. "I have decided, though, after over 30 years of being a bull rider, I am going to retire for a few years. I would like to return when I become old enough to enter in the next category, which is the over-50 division.

"I first fell in love with the sport while my sister was dating a cowboy. He got me interested in the sport by first teaching me how to ride a calf. Then I started to ride steers and eventually I went on to riding bulls."

Phillips said that this love of riding earned him many awards when he was younger, including winning the "Little Britches" competition when he was just nine-years-old, the American Junior Championship award at his first junior rodeo, and, later, a college scholarship for his riding skills, which allowed him to attend Tarleton State University.

"I attended Tarleton for a computer degree, but because of my scholarship in riding, I was able to go to the rodeos around Texas and compete. It was the best of both worlds for me."

Phillips won the Texas Senior Pro-Rodeo Championship for five years straight, beginning in 1995. Two years ago he began the senior tour of the Pro Rodeo Association, going around the country and competing in various rodeos. One of the constant factors of all the rodeos was that he always wore a green shirt.

"That is how people knew it was me. I was always the guy that rode the bulls wearing a green shirt. I use to joke with people by saying that wearing a green shirt always brought me luck.

"In the 32 national rodeos I was in I can proudly say that I only bucked off seven times. That is a major accomplishment for me."

Phillips competed with seven other individuals during the National Finals.

"In the 2000 national competition I rode all four bulls. This year I rode three out of the four bulls. There were 10 bulls at the event and everyone else only rode two."

Phillips won a saddle and six buckles while at the National Finals, including the world champion buckle. "I haven't received my world champion buckle yet, but they told me it is in the mail."

Last week, Phillips had the honor of being the Grand Marshall of the Gatesville Christmas parade, which was held on Dec. 7. Phillips added, "I am very honored that they asked me to be in the parade. I am just glad that all I have to do is ride in a car and wave at the crowd."