Twenty years ago, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Association came to life to pay tribute to the original Bull Dogger himself, Bill Pickett. A corner post of the BPIR is Jesse Guillory of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. With BPIR for eighteen years, this rodeo cowboy had a start like most rodeo cowboys.
"Slugger” began rodeoing as a little boy. “I always loved bull doggin’,” said Slugger. He is a three time Bulldoggin’ Champion and a two time Bareback Champion. He has competed in every BPIR since his first invitation eighteen years ago.
Slugger not only sees the only touring African American rodeo as a voice of history but also as a career. He serves as the General Manager and spokesperson for the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo and sees the rodeo as a vehicle to educate America’s youth. ”The BPIR tour focuses on cities where ticket buyers would not see a cowboy much less a black cowboy.
“The history, so much black history has been left out,” said Slugger. “Even the black kids do not realize there are black cowboys and that black cowboys were a huge part of the American West.”
As General Manager, Slugger has an interest in the audience that comes to watch a BPIR event. He explains, “When people hear about or see a Black rodeo or Black cowboy, they are immediately interested. A predominantly white audience, oddly enough is even more interested.
