Living Legend Kevin Woodson
BULLFIGHTER, CALF ROPER & COWBOYS OF COLOR RODEO ANNOUNCER
1956-Today
Kevin Woodson was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956, and always had a passion for horses. He attended his first rodeo at age 2, and fell in love with rodeo, especially the “rodeo clowns”. After excelling in baseball, football, and hockey, he attained his goal of becoming a rodeo bullfighter.
He began his rodeo career after attending a bullfighting school at the Archview Stables Arena in Belleville, Illinois where the “best student” of the school helped the seasoned bullfighters at the weekly Saturday night bull buck out.
He teamed up with fellow bullfighter Maurice File, and the two were the featured “lifesavers” for the Saturday night bull riding being paid a paltry 50 cents per bull. The pay got better as he earned his way to open and pro-sanctioned rodeos in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia. His move to Texas with his family for a job opportunity resulted in retirement from fighting bulls.
Today he competes in calf roping and is the voice of the Cowboys of Color Rodeo Tour that highlights the contributions of minorities to the Western expansion. Rodeo is a family affair at the Woodson Ranch since daughter Leah competed as a barrel racer from age 8 until she started college.
Professionally, Woodson works as a radio broadcaster and has over 30 years in the industry. He has worked with the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Doug Banks Morning Show, Ricky Smiley Morning Show, “The Touch,” and as a host of stations and shows numbering too many to mention. “Radio fans are the most loyal fans of any group I know except for Rodeo fans.”
At his ranch in Azle, Texas he teaches riding to children and adults, keeps his calf-roping skills honed, and collects Western art, furnishings, and textiles so he can be surrounded in his home by the Cowboy lifestyle he loves.
Woodson also speaks to youth about their heritage, the importance of finding something they love, and committing their energies to be the best that they can be at that activity, whether it is a sport, a job, or a community endeavor.