BB… that’s what his friends called him …and Bob Blackwood had a lot of friends.
During his 31years of rodeo, Bob is most remembered for his successes in the saddle bronc riding, which included senior world championships in 1989 and 1993, and qualifications to IFR 9, 10, 11 and 25; the last coming two years after his 2nd senior world title. BB also qualified for the 1992 Indian National Finals Rodeo.
The saddle bronc riding is where he had his greatest successes, but far from his only successes. BB won the bull riding title in Reno in 1972 and the all around title in Mesquite in 1974, working all three rough stock events with great success.
Bob loved rodeo and that love of rodeo and the fact that someone stole his spurs were the catalyst for Blackwood Spurs and Rodeo Equipment Company in 1969. The BB Brand would become the standard for competitors at both ends of the arena, and the twisted shank bull spur BB developed was one of a very few changes to the bull spur since cowboys started riding bulls.
Bob also produced monthly rodeo schools where he shared what he had learned over his career with young men from all walks of life. Some of these would become great cowboys, and some would go home better for their time they spent with BB.
Bob was also a great Christian and would confirm that faith in the arena and out. He would share his testimony across the country, letting people know that you could be a Christian and a cowboy. BB would say that is what led to his success both in and out of the arena.
And who could argue. At a time when most men are telling rodeo stories to their grandchildren, BB was still living the dream.
