Events: Steer wrestling, Steer Roping, Calf Roping
Corky Warren was born on December 15, 1938. The first rodeo he ever watched was Cheyenne Frontier Days. He first entered Cheyenne in 1967. In 1968 he won the first go in the calf roping, placed twice in the steer wrestling and made the short go round in the lead in both events. He ended up winning the calf roping and the All-Around championship. He placed at Cheyenne twelve of fourteen times he entered, winning four rounds in the calf roping, three rounds in the steer wrestling and one round the steer roping.
Corky entered the Senior Steer Roping at Cheyenne nine years and placed seven. He went on to win the championship in 2005. He also won the World Championship in Senior Steer Roping in 2003, 2004, and 2006. Corky won championships at five of seven major rodeos of the time, Calgary, Reno, Denver, San Antonio, and Phoenix, but Cheyenne was “HIS RODEO”. In 2008 he was elected into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.
Corky was the originator of the central entries for contestants which evolved into the PROCOM system of central entries. He originated the PRCA “Horse of the Year” Award given in memory of his wife and two daughters killed in an accident going to a rodeo. This award is now presented each year by the American Quarter Horse Association. He also started the “Rope A Wish” to benefit children with terminal cancer. At the first three ropings in 1998, 1999, and 2000 he and his wife Joni generated over $36,000 for the Make A Wish foundation in the memory of their son Colby Jay Goodwin killed roping a steer at the 1999 NFR Steer Roping.
In 1987 Corky started Arena Design Consultants. He designs user-friendly buildings facilities for rodeo and horse shows. He has been a mentor to many young and older rodeo hands in and out of the rodeo arena and is known and remembered everywhere for his smile and personality.
