On Saturday, July 12, 2014, listen to men who careers have been in the rodeo, true American Cowboys of Color. Tune in to hear from legendary heroes, Harold Cash and Vincent Jacobs. Listen to them share how they broke racial barriers to tour the rodeo circuit and how they are making sure the complete story of the American Cowboy is told accurately.
Harold Cash who was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2010 credits his education from Prairie View A& M College to him being a part of the Rodeo. Listen to him share highlights from his stellar career as rodeo star, working in the oil business, and owning the first Black Country Western Club in Houston, Texas. Cash believes in bring others along on his journey. Hear him share how he honors others who have gone before him on the rodeo cirucut.
Vincent Jacobs, a 50-year resident of Barrett Station, is recognized as a legendary African-American Cowboys in Texas. At 15, he was introduced to competitive bull riding, and in 1970 he was one of the first black men to ride in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Hear him share what it was like to be a trailblazer among trailblazers. Jacobs will be inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame on in July.
Living Your Best Life Radio, radio that empowers, inspires, and motivates you to live your BEST life, can be heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, Tune In, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST. This show will also air on WTST, a member of the HBCU radio network (XM 142).
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More About the Rode Hall of Fame Mission
The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring and documenting the lives of men and women who have made exemplary contributions to Western Heritage, past and present.
More About Harold Cash
For years Harold was a spectator with his grandfather, however in 1967 hometown cowboy friends Elijah and Charlie Davis entered him into his first rodeo at the S.P. Picnic Ground. Thus his rodeo career began. Thereafter in 1969 Cash teamed up and traveled with his mentor, “The World Greatest” Willie Thomas, Sr. to cities and states such as Chicago, Denver, New York, Washing D.C. and Oklahoma participating in rodeos. Even though Cash rode bulls, he specialized in Bare Back Riding. He was an expert at riding the “Bad One’s” especially those that stock contractors thought no one could ride. One memorable ride was when Harold Cash rode a horse in Washington, D.C. known as the horse of the year named “Playboy” owned by the Thera Latting Rodeo Production of Robbins, Illinois. Cash won the All American Rodeo Association Champion Bare Back Buckle in1979 and 1981. Along with numerous trophies and Awards in his rodeo career, in 1995 Cash won the Old Time Rodeo Association Bare Back Buckle, which is when he retired from the arena.
In 1982, Cash became the Co-owner of the first Black Country Western Club in Houston, Texas with his friend Myrtis Dightman. In 1985, he became the sole owner of the “Tie Down Saloon” Country and Western Club in Texas City, Texas. In addition, some of Harold Cash’s community accomplishments are, Master Mason Grand Lodge 112, - Logos Bible Institute, Houston, Texas, - Ike Carden Rodeo Association - Over the Hill & Future Cowboy Rodeo Association, - Galveston County Fair & Rodeo Association - Houston Livestock show and Rodeo Black Professional Cowboy & Cowgirl Association – Texas House of Representatives Honored as an outstanding example of a Texas icon-A real cowboy –and the President of the All American Youth Rodeo Association.
More About Vincent Jacobs
Vincent Jacobs is an American cowboy who grew up in the 1940s. He challenges what is written as history with factual information about the American West and speaks often at schools and colleges about the accuracy of American History. He notes many movies about the "Wild West" are Hollywood versions of stories that omit the role of black cowboys in our Western culture. Jacobs states many stories were changed to make material for a number of films like The Lone Ranger which was said to be inspired by Bass Reeves, a former slave who had an illustrious career as a U.S. Marshall. Also, the film, The Searchers, is based on a novel by Alan Le May, which was inspired by legendary Brit Johnson, a famous black cowboy. In recent years, black characters appear more in films such as Wild West Posse, Unforgiven, and Django Unchained. But Hollywood has ignored the ethnic diversity of the cowboy in American West which is considered the birthplace of America where Americans made a difference to people of European descent. The West is seen as a frontier where white people showed their courage but does not depict many people of color who had no rights under the U.S. Constitution were just as courageous and made many historical contributions to our society in spite of the circumstances that prohibited them from being considered citizens. Jacobs still fights for all Americans who have contributed so much to recognized and honored.
Jacobs has been recognized by many organizations and is honored to be nominated into the Rodeo Hall of Fame.
