McCoy bringing ProRodeo to Purcell

Decades ago, Cord McCoy was one of the biggest rodeo names to compete in Oklahoma.

McCoy grew up on Oklahoma rodeos. He was an all-around superstar from a young age, following in the footsteps of his three older brothers and older sister.

As a kid, he and Jet, older by 13 months, were making their names known by their prowess in the arena.

As a teenager, he was excelling in the Oklahoma City-based IPRA, eventually becoming a five-time champion in the association.

Now, though, McCoy is a stock contractor in the PRCA, the sport’s premier sanctioning body, and he returns to central Oklahoma for Paycom’s Purcell ProRodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, at the McClain County Expo in Purcell. He will be the event’s producer.

“I have so many memories of growing up and going to these rodeos when I was a kid,” said McCoy of Lane, Okla. “Now that I am producing rodeos instead of competing in them, I want to be able to put on great rodeos. I am proud to do that in my home state of Oklahoma.”

He should be. The Sooner State has a proud tradition in rodeo, dating back to nearly a century ago when the PRCA was first established in 1929.

From steer wrestler Gene Ross of Sayer in 1929 to bull rider Sage Kimzey in 2021 (his seventh in eight years), Oklahoma has been home to dozens of PRCA world champions over 11 decades.

McCoy has his own history in his home state. After a stellar career in youth and high school rodeo, he moved on to Southwestern Oklahoma State University and was a regular qualifier to the College National Finals Rodeo … typically alongside Jet. Both were also dominant all-around cowboys in the IPRA.

In September 2004 while competing at the PRCA rodeo in Oklahoma City, Cord McCoy was severely injured after getting bucked off in saddle bronc riding and kicked in the head by his horse.

After months of recovery, he returned to action at the 89er Days Rodeo at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie in April 2005 and eventually qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in bull riding that season.

Starting in 2006, McCoy became a regular on the PBR’s premier series, now dubbed the Unleash the Beast tour. He was a six-time qualifier to the PBR World Finals.

Paycom’s Purcell ProRodeo is part of the McCoy Rodeo Tour, a series of nine rodeos spread across the Midwest. Most, though, are in Oklahoma.

“This is a chance to show some great Oklahoma talent, some outstanding cowboys and cowgirls from right here,” McCoy said. “We’re also going to see contestants from all over. Spring is a good time to rodeo in Oklahoma, and we’re looking forward to showing Purcell what ProRodeo is all about.”