Billy Ray Thunder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Ray Thunder
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Thunder in 2015
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| Born |
William Ray Higginbottom
September 20, 1954 |
| Alma mater | Archbishop Hoban High School |
| Occupation |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Children | Victoria and William |
Billy Ray Thunder, whose real name is William Ray Higginbottom, is a famous African American rodeo cowboy. He is known for his amazing skills in bull riding and bareback bronc riding. He has been a professional cowboy for more than 30 years! People call him "The Living Legend" because of his long and successful career.
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Early Life and Background
Billy Ray Higginbottom was born on September 20, 1954, in Akron, Ohio. Both of his parents were African American. His father was very good with horses. Billy Ray also says he is a Black Indian, explaining that his grandfather was "a Heron black American." Billy Ray is quite tall, standing 6 feet 3 inches, and weighs 225 pounds.
School and Military Service
From 1969 to 1973, Billy Ray went to Archbishop Hoban High School. He played defensive end on the school's football team. After finishing high school in 1973, he joined the Army. Later, he served in the Navy before joining the Army again. After his time in the military, he decided to try playing professional football.
Billy Ray's Rodeo Career
While he was in the service, Billy Ray also played on a semi-pro football team in Germany. He tried out for two famous NFL teams, the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. However, he did not make either team. After a short time at the University of Akron, Billy Ray found his true passion: rodeo riding.
How He Started Riding Bulls
Billy Ray's stepbrother, Anthony Winfield, invited him to a rodeo in Georgia. Anthony was going to ride bulls there. In the early 1900s, many African Americans moved from farms in the South to cities. This meant that rodeos, horses, and bulls became less common in city life. Also, movies often showed cowboys as mostly white, which made rodeo seem less appealing to many African Americans living in cities.
The story of how Billy Ray started is quite exciting! He met some fans at the rodeo and wanted to impress them. He bragged that he was a great rider, even though he wasn't. His stepbrother, Anthony, offered to lend him his rodeo gear and set everything up. Billy Ray was supposed to get on a huge 2,000-pound bull inside the gate. Anthony was supposed to pull him off before the gate opened.
But Anthony didn't pull him off! The gate opened, and Billy Ray ended up in the hospital with broken ribs. The girl he wanted to impress stayed by his side. For the next 19 years, Billy Ray rode bulls in many professional rodeo events around the world. These events were approved by groups like the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), which later became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA). More recently, Billy Ray has been riding bucking horses.
A Long and Amazing Career
Billy Ray's career has been very long. Most rodeo cowboys stop competing professionally when they are in their 30s. When Billy Ray first started, most bull riders and bareback bronc riders were much smaller than him. His long career makes him a true senior in the sport.
Inspiring Young People
Billy Ray works hard to encourage young Black people to get involved in rodeo. He wants them to learn about the history of America's Black cowboys. Famous Black cowboys include Bill Pickett, Nat Love, Bose Ikard, James Beckwourth, Stagecoach Mary, and Bass Reeves. These individuals made important contributions to the history of the American West. Billy Ray talks to young people and guides them. He teaches them how they can become part of this American tradition and even earn college scholarships through rodeo.
