Don Workman’s love of horses began as a young boy and grew into maturity as a teenager when he began rodeo competition. His participation in the sport of rodeo continued for 15 plus years.
Don is a champion bull rider, bareback rider, saddle bronc rider, bull-dogger from Olton, Texas. The list of rodeo titles he has won are too numerous to mention. From 1955 to 1961, Don won more than fifty individual rodeos and championships in his chosen events at local and regional rodeos throughout Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. His titles include 1955 American Junior Rodeo Association World Champion Bareback Rider, 1955 AJRA World Champion Bull Rider, and 1958 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Champion Bull Rider.
His academic career was punctuated by rodeoing and eventually leading to years of West Texas banking and other business endeavors. He has been a rancher in Cochran County and is now involved in farming/ranching in Haskell County. He has served the state of Texas on the Texas Youth Council and as a regent of Texas Tech University.
His rodeoing provided the foundation for successes in several different careers. His book, Let’s Rodeo Sandhill Cowboy, recounts highlights of serious living and amusing incidents through the eyes of this champion bull rider. In 2012, he was voted a Lifetime member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Throughout his career, Don has actively served his community and promoted rodeo throughout the state of Texas. He lives in Lubbock.
