Kenneth Pressley was born in Mansfield, Texas in 1935. The family moved to Morgan Mills when he was 6. His father, Sherman, then took a job as ranch foreman at the HX Ranch when Kenneth was nine-years-old. This is where Kenneth and his brother “Red” began their “cowboy life”. They spent countless hours in the saddle, through all seasons, riding herd over 300 mother cows and 1,200 sheep and goats.
In 1947, after a move to May, Texas Pressley began his calf roping career. He stated entering local rodeos. That same year the Pressleys moved back to Mansfield where Kenneth attended high school and lettered in football, baseball basketball and track. He then attended Arlington State College (UTA).
With his family being in the cattle and livestock industries Kenneth attended numerous auctions. Presseley became very interested in becoming an auctioneer and sold his first sale when he was a junior in high school.
In 1959, while auctioneering around the country, the legendary Kow Bell Indoor Arena was built. Kenneth’s interest in rodeo had grown enough that he went back to the practice pen to learn how to “bulldog” steers. In 1960 Pressley joined the Central Rodeo Association (CRA). For the next several years he, and his good friend R.L. Richardson entered 2-3 rodeos every weekend all over the Southwest.
Kenneth served as President of the CRA and as Spokesman for the International Rodeo Association (IPRA). In 1963 he was the Team Roping Champion at the Kow Bell Rodeo. In 1965 he won the bull dogging at Kow Bell. In 1966, he was runner-up Champion Steer Wrester in the CRA. Pressley was instrumental in producing the first CRA Finals that took place in Graham, Texas for several years.
Kenneth is a Gold Card member of the CRA, and auctioned more than a thousand charity auctions. He has served as a rodeo announcer, pick-up man and rodeo judge. In 1971, after his rodeo career, Kenneth began auctioneering sales the Fort Worth Stockyards. Pressley now lives between Mansfield and Lilliamn.
