Junior Meek

            Junior Meek was one of the top bullfighters and rodeo clowns in professional rodeo during his career which spanned twenty years. He was born April 4, 1936 in Cleburne , Texas and died January 3, 2006 in Fort Worth , Texas .  Meek was caught up in rodeo, almost before he knew it, and realized from the very beginning he had to be different than all the others in his profession.  He was athletic and began jumping the bull, from head to tail, which always got much applause and attention from fans.  Others had jumped the bull, across their shoulders, before him, but never head to tail.  Very soon his year was booked with jobs.

              As a teenager he competed in a few rodeos and at an event, put on by Virgil Stafford, in Walker , Louisiana , when the regular clown did not show up.  Junior offered to fill in if Virgil would waive his entry fees in bull riding and steer wrestling.  Jim Dyer, owner of the auction barn at nearby Amite , Louisiana , paid for Meek’s R.C.A. card the following Monday because he was so impressed with the young man’s ability.  It wasn’t long before Wes Curtis, an older rodeo clown, from California , took Meek  under his wing and they traveled together for several years.  “I never saw anyone eat as much as that boy could,” laughed Curtis.

            During his career, he worked with many of the greats; Kajun Kidd, Bobby & Gene Clark, Buck LeGrand, Wilbur Plaugher and Slim Pickens.  He and George Doak teamed together for a few years and were booked solid.  Meek also rodeoed across the United States and Canada as well as   Cuba and Australia .  He worked the famous Madison Square Garden rodeo; Cowtown, New Jersey; Kissimmee, Florida;  Fort Worth, TX; Phoenix, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Pendleton, OR; Walla Walla, WA; Cheyenne, WY; and Denver, CO, just to name a few.     In 1966, Meek was also one of the top fifteen steer wrestlers in the country and went to the PRCA National Finals.  He finished tenth that year.

            Officially he retired from his bullfighting and rodeo clown chores in 1974.  He, however, continued to don his make-up and familiar rodeo clown ‘duds’ for any event that worked with children.  Some of his favorites were; Special Olympics, Rodeo Clown Reunions, Celebrity Rodeos, and Future Professional Bull Riders.  Additionally, he had been tutoring his grandson, Jasper Wood, who is now seventeen, and who has been bullfighting at Junior Rodeos, etc., for the past four years.

            The last year was tough for Meek.  He was suffering from heart and lung problems.  But it was not unusual to see him sitting in his van, on a weekend at a youth bull riding, and visiting with the young bull riders listening to their problems or giving advice on how to ride a certain bull.  At the celebration of his life, on January 5^th, 2006, there was standing room only in his hometown of Godley , Texas , including five pews of Future Professional Bull Riders, ages seven to seventeen, dressed in white shirts and red bandanas, to honor their friend.   Junior Meek has been considered by many cowboys to be one of the top bullfighters of any era.

The following letter was written by Omar Martinez, a ten year old friend of Junior Meeks.

"Dear God,

            We are here today because you took our Pop (Junior Meek) away.  I was mad and I did not understand why you did that.  This is the first time I am sad because of someone dying.  I know I am only ten and have a lot to learn.  I asked my mom why do people die.  Pop was a very good honest man who did wonderful things here.  He was a great bullfighter and always spoke his mind.

            Mimi (Mrs. Junior Meek) I know you are sad.  But he will be with us day and night. He will be the shining sun that’s rays of day and he will be the twinkling stars at night.  Now he is up in heaven giving them a piece of Junior Meek.

            My number one bullfighter, may you rest in peace.

  I love you, Pop and Mimi,

Omar Martinez