Myrtis Dightman
Myrtis Dightman (born 1935) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He is a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee. Known as the "Jackie Robinson of Rodeo", Dightman was the first African-American to compete at the National Finals Rodeo. Early life. Dightman was born in 1935 on a 4,000-acre ranch in Houston County near Crockett, Texas. His father worked for rancher Karl Leediker. Career. Dightman started his career in rodeo in Houston. In 1964, he became the first black cowboy to compete at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). He qualified for the  NFR in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1972. In 1967, he had the best year-end finish of his career by placing third in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Standings. The PRCA was formerly known as the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA). In 1971, he won both the Calgary Stampede and Cheyenne Frontier Days. Dightman was hired to do stunts and play as himself in the rodeo movies "J.W. Coop" and Sam Peckinpah's "Junior Bonner" in 1971. Dightman was a big influence on Charles Sampson. In October 2006 a benefit concert featuring Michael Martin Murphey and Don  Edwards was held to raise funds for a bronze statue in his honor. It was placed at the entrance of the Porth Ag Arena in Crockett, Texas. This rodeo arena hosts the annual Labor Day Rodeo that bears his name.