PAFRA member, MSG Jerry Casey – Imagineifphoto

story by Angelia Kerkhoff

MSG Jerry Casey from Sanger, Texas retired from the United State Army after 30 year of total service.
During his period of service he had been deployed for tours in both combat and combat supported missions and other security efforts. He served as an Air Traffic Controller, Psyops, Recruiting, Retention and other duties assigned in support of the USA.
All his life Jerry has competed in rodeo from bull rider to bullfighter, now as a barrelman while  raising his own bulls and producing bull riding events and rodeos. Last year alone he was a barrelman at the Cowboys Regional Rodeo Finals, (CRRA),  Bull Riders Incorporated (BRI) Finals, PAFRA Finals and Junior Bullriders Association (JBR) Finals.
Jerry travels all year across the United States including Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa. His goal is to make the PRCA now that he can compete and perform without worrying about more deployments.
“The best part of rodeo is meeting people and being connected,” Jerry said.
“I am always asked about my time in the service and my representation of my freedom of religion. I reply by saying I always wear my cross and cancer jerseys representing the many forms of cancer and the cross jersey to reach someone out there to help them find faith… And as far as serving my country, we all have choices of freedom. I choose to defend it,” Jerry remarked.
“What has helped me during these years while serving has always been family and close friends who have helped me stay connected with rodeo. People like Wendel Ratchford with Wildhorse Rodeo, Dale Lyons with Big L and close rodeo friends and professionals in the business: Stacy Lattin, Cody Webster, Duane Peters, Wes Ward, Brett Wellden, Branden Wren, Rickey Thornberry, Chad Dowdy, Jimmy Dale Turner, Bruce McCormick, Paul Lay, Jeff Harris, Dusty Myers and many more that always helped me when I was away serving my country. But most of all I must thank God for always seeing me through life.  And my parents who are now my guardian angels who passed within months after retirement. Thanks for still guiding me. And remember…”Whoever finds God, finds Life.”