August 31, 2022 Issue, Page 23 of 30

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never felt il at I made thebest rodeo clown of the year, even for and a winner. Kimzey was an only several years. I was just recognized child whose parents believed he was as being one of the best, and some- everything in one package. His fam- years old. That was the big deal, it ily was poor, but he had the chance body just picked that year to give it was pretty iconic,” he said. to do a lot of things that other Elk City is considered his PRCA to me,” he said. kids did not. He was the youngest hometown rodeo, and it was impor- Kimzey started clowning in 1974, Eagle Scout in western Oklahoma, tant to him. Another memorable and he fell into it through bullfight- because his mother pushed him. event in his career was the first ing, or by accident. His parents were Steel and Odean time he worked the National Finals “It wound up as a good fit because Kimzey. Rodeo (NER) in Oklahoma City. Td always been called a class clown In 1974 he got his PRCA card, Kimzey went to college on a ro- in school. So that comedy came which was the first step into pro- deo scholarship. He rode in three easy to me. But I'm not necessarily fessional rodeoing, Once he got the rough stock events, bull riding, a funny guy just to be around. It is card, he only worked in either PRCA bareback, and saddle bronc. He hard to explain. I started clowning. rodeos or National High School ro- graduated from Southwestern I would go into what we call ama- deos, anything that was related to Oklahoma State University with a teur rodeos, open rodeo, that any- education. The last time he worked degree in Industrial Education. At body can have, there's a lot of them as a professional clown, was at the the time he thought his best event out here in western Oklahoma and Cheyenne Old Settlers Reunion. was in bareback, but destiny took Texas. I would have some friends This was the last time he put on that would get in trouble in the bull the make-up and entertained the him in a different direction. “Another important event was riding. And I don't know, I never crowd. “It was the interaction between thought about it. Never gave it a when I was awarded “Clown of the me and the people, very hard to ex- thought, I just jumped up there to Year” in 1986 for the whole PRCA. plain. It did come back to the point L help them all out. I distracted the Tt was at the PRCA Convention in bull,” Kimzey explained. of winning over the bull. But the Pictured is Ted Kimzey’s award for being name Clown of the Year by Denver, Colo., The key was that I See Clown page 14. the PRCA. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. It’s Time For The RODEO. QUALITY @CAI Elk City 580-225-3442 uc Don't Pay More to Cover Your Floor 1503 West Third + Elk City, OK 73644 980-243-1112 + FED. IDENT. #731388647 la