DALLAS, Texas — Cleo Hearn, founder and president of the Cowboys of Color Rodeo – the largest multicultural rodeo in the world – has passed away at age 86.
Hearn is fondly remembered as a trailblazer who broke many racial barriers in rodeo history and who earned his place in National Rodeo Hall of Fame, as well as a lengthy list of other honors and accomplishments.
A wake for Hearn will be held Nov. 20 at the Evergreen “Peggy Jo Mayse” Chapel in Dallas, followed by a celebration of life at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, at Life Center United Methodist Church, 220 S. Cockrell Hill Road in DeSoto, Texas.
“God sent me here to be a cowboy,” Hearn said, his quote featured in his own obituary.
Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company (PPBC) President Kevin Perry paid tribute to Hearn as “the Cowboy of Cowboys.”
“It was a pleasure and an honor working with Mr. Cleo Hearn,” said Perry. “He was dedicated to exposing everyone to the rodeo world and the opportunity for scholarships for kids to attend college through rodeos.
“He and my father, Russell M. Perry, worked together for nearly two decades to bring the popular Cowboys of Color Rodeo to Oklahoma City and Tulsa,” Perry said. “He will truly be missed!”
Perry noted that Hearn was an Oklahoma City native and a graduate of Douglass High School.
Born May 3, 1939, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to an African American mother and Seminole father, Hearn was a calf-, team- and steer-roper by the age of 16, in 1955. He joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1959.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961, Hearn was one of the first eight African Americans to be selected for the Presidential Honor Guard under President John F. Kennedy.
Hearn became the first African American to attend college on a rodeo scholarship. He became the first African American to win the calf (tie down) roping at a major rodeo in 1970, competing in the Denver National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.
“In 1971, Hearn produced his first Black Rodeo for more than 10,000 kids in Harlem, New York, joined by 100 Black cowboys from Texas and Oklahoma,” according to OK Cowboy. “That single event sparked what would become the Cowboys of Color Rodeo Tour — the largest multicultural rodeo in the world. His vision celebrated African American, Native, Hispanic, and European American contributions to the Western tradition, reminding us that the story of the cowboy has never belonged to just one people.
“Beyond the arena, Cleo Hearn was a mentor, a teacher, and a living example of resilience and pride. Through every performance, he carried the message that representation matters; that young riders deserve to see themselves reflected in the saddle. His influence shaped not only rodeo culture but also the way we understand history, identity, and belonging in the West…
“Though we are deeply saddened by his passing, we take comfort in knowing that his legacy continues to live on; in every child who dreams of the rodeo, in every arena that welcomes diversity, and in every story that keeps his spirit alive,” reads OK Cowboy’s statement.
In 1995, Hearn changed the name of his event from the Texas Black Rodeo to Cowboys of Color Rodeo to be more inclusive of all cultures, including both contestants and audience members.
Hearn retired from competition in 2017.
His honors include: NFR’s 2016 Lane Frost Award; Frontier Times Museum inductee; Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame; Texas Trail of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards; and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. He has been recognized with the Cleo Hearn Equestrian Trail at Bear Creek Nature Park in his hometown of Lancaster, Texas.
In addition to his induction into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2023, May 10 is recognized as “Cleo Hearn Day” in Lancaster, Texas, where he lived most of his adult life.
Hearn also enjoyed a 33-year career with Ford Motor Company in sales and marketing.
Leaders of the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo recently released a statement celebrating Hearn’s legacy.
“Celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of our Western way of life, the Cowboys of Color Rodeo captivates thousands of loyal fans each year. [Hearn’s] legacy, leadership, and love for Western heritage will continue inspiring generations. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who were impacted by his extraordinary life and contributions,” reads the statement.
Hearn is survived by his wife, Wanda Henderson Hearn, and his four sons: Harlan, Eldon, Robby, and Wendell, who have taken over the leadership of the Cowboys of Color Rodeo.
