In the early
1970s, Canadian cowboy Bruce (we called him “Pink” back then) Hunt was a
roommate and Utah State University Rodeo Teammate. In an uncommon pairing of
roper and roughstock rider, we traveled a lot of miles together going to
college and PRCA rodeos, ranging as far afield as Colorado and California. He
was a hell of a lot better roper than I was a bareback rider, and that’s all
I’ll say about that.
Bruce later
married a cowgirl and settled down in Coalinga, California, as coach of the
rodeo team at West Hills College, where his teams won a lot of championships
over the years. After more
than three decades, Bruce is retiring as rodeo coach. It’s a big loss, and a
sad day for the school and the sport.
But now that
he no longer holds an official position where he is expected to be a shining
example to America’s youth, I am free to relate stories about some of the
things he got up to when he was young….
On second
thought, on the advice of counsel I will, instead, assert my Fifth Amendment
right against self-incrimination. And that’s all I’ll say about that.
(The photo: USU Rodeo
Team. That’s Bruce “Pink” Hunt, standing second from left. That’s
me (they called me “Mini” back then) standing to the left of him in the stylish
polka-dot shirt. We both won buckles at that rodeo.)