Terry Cooke Stepping Down…
Terry Cooke is trading in his Judge’s card and President’s gavel for his gold card. Nice trade at this juncture in a life well traveled on the rodeo trail with way too many stories, cowboys always tell on themselves. If you know, you know.
After a cancer diagnosis in December, I made the decision not to continue in a formal role with the CPRA for the betterment of the judging program and the importance of the Association’s business matters. Both the judging and presidency have been an honor, and I took these duties seriously.
I started rodeo in the amateurs, going on to win the bull riding at Dawson Creek in 1978. But being a pilot for my dad’s outfitting business, the decision to quit riding bulls was the smartest thing to do, although I never considered that cowboys always made the smartest decisions. I thought I might make a decent judge, which I promise you, is not a job for a guy with a heart the size of a pea! That’s where it all started and so it goes. I judged my first Pro Rodeo in 1993 and have enjoyed judging very small rodeos to the very biggest and best, both in Canada and the USA.
I’d like to share a few accomplishments I’m most proud of during my tenure as President of the organization, accomplishments achieved with the backing of the forward thinking Board, management and contestants.
* The Maple Leaf Circuit
* The Judging program
* Breakaway Roping
* The return of the CFR to Edmonton for the CPRA’s 50th Anniversary
When I became president eight years ago, our association was fractured, in a very serious financial situation and morale was never lower. We needed a new home for our Finals and that was when the City of Red Deer stepped up and gave us their best for five years.
Today, we are very stable and that took a great deal of work from our management team and the volunteers that sit on the CPRA Board. Rain, snow, sunshine, time away from family or jobs, the Board meets. I want to thank you all for that; doing this work usually costs money out of your pocket.
In conclusion, I have no regrets and admire those of you who have stepped up to the plate for this organization; it wasn’t always a party that’s for sure, yet it is the cowboy way. I hope you all remember, we are The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association and it is good to keep that identity. We have an amazing brand, one that is getting better every year.
Safe travels and thank you for believing in my vision and fairness, in and out of the arena.
Terry Cooke