Bob Romer was renowned for his vibrant presence both within and beyond the rodeo arena. Known for his willingness to dance the two-step with anyone, he also earned the nickname “The Bull Dancer” for his daring and up-close interactions with bulls, often finding himself on his hands and knees amidst the action.
Romer’s early years were spent on a 2,000-acre irrigated farm and ranch in Colorado, where he was actively involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. A standout athlete, he excelled in wrestling during his high school and college years. Romer pursued higher education at Oklahoma State University, earning a degree in Animal Science, and later took graduate courses in computer science at West Texas State University in Canyon.
He competed in bull riding and saddle bronc riding, notably winning the bull riding event at Ellensburg, Washington, in 1975. Romer began his professional rodeo career as a barrelman in 1967, but quickly transitioned to bullfighting before his first rodeo concluded. Over his extensive career, Romer fought bulls across the United States and Canada, including major events such as the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo for ten years, Kissimmee, Florida, for eighteen years, and Prescott, Arizona, for fifteen years.
In 1975, Romer was selected as an alternate bullfighter for the National Finals Rodeo, and the following year, he was chosen to work at the NFR. He also fought at prestigious rodeos like the Canadian National Finals, College National Finals, and the Indian National Finals. Romer emphasized the importance of entertaining the audience while prioritizing cowboy safety, stating, “The cowboys are my number one responsibility, but the fans are the ones who pay the bills.”
Romer maintained his physical fitness through unorthodox methods, including double-timing to Western music. He was also known for his love of Dr. Pepper, rarely seen without one in hand. In 1981 and 1982, Romer participated in the Wrangler Bullfighter Tour. As a gold card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, he was selected to work the National Old-Timers Rodeo Association Finals from 1983 to 1985.
Aside from his bullfighting career, Romer enjoyed snow skiing, describing his style as “downhill and out of control.” He aimed to attract new fans to the sport of rodeo, even wearing his clown outfit while skiing to garner interest.
