Archives On The Air 197: Riding High In Rodeo--Abe Morris Papers

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Archives On The Air 197: Riding High In Rodeo—Abe Morris Papers
By WYOMING PUBLIC MEDIA & AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER • 14 HOURS AGO



Abe Morris bull riding in a rodeo on July 19, 1992. He competed until 1994 when he was injured and retired. Box 1, Abe Morris papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER

How did a New Jersey native with no ranch background become a success on the rodeo bull riding circuit?

Abe Morris gives credit to his older cousins for introducing him to the sport. One cousin, Gene Walker, went to Casper College on a rodeo scholarship. Later Abe came to the University of Wyoming on his own rodeo scholarship.

Abe was a member of UW's rodeo team and won the bull riding title in the 1978 Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo held at UW.

After graduation, Morris stayed on the rodeo circuit for more than 25 years.   

He also became the first African American to be certified as an announcer in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Learn more in the Abe Morris papers at UW's American Heritage Center.

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1. About 25% of the cowboys in the 'Old West' were black

But you wouldn't learn that by watching westerns.