| Summary: | Bull rider Myrtis Dightman was born on May 7, 1935, in Crockett, Texas. He became active in the rodeo at the age of twenty five. In 1966, he was the first African American cowboy to qualify for the Professional Rodeo Association National Finals Rodeo. The next year, he finished third in the bull riding world standings., Dightman qualified seven times for the National Finals Rodeo. In 1971, Dightman won the Calgary Stampede and two years later, he was cast to play himself in the rodeo-based movie J.W. Coop. In 2001, Dightman was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the National Cowboys of Color Museum and Professional Bull Rider's Ring of honor. In 2006, a benefit concert raised funds to create a bronze statue in honor of Dightman. The statue was erected in Crockett, Texas, which holds an annual rodeo in his honor.
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