story by Mary Fuller
Randy & Sue Magers have shared a love for good Quarter Horses and rodeo since they first met at an AJRA Rodeo held in Comanche, Texas in 1963. According to Randy, it was love at first site and has continued even today after over 53 years of marriage. Both rodeoed for Tarleton in the 1960s as well as completing their Bachelor of Science Degrees in 1969. Master of Science degrees in Education followed for both a few years later.
Sue was an integral member of the first Women’s Team from Tarleton that ever qualified for the NIRA Finals in 1966 hosted in Vermillion, SD. Randy was a member of the initial men’s rodeo team that not only qualified in 1965 & 1966 but were the national men’s team champions in 1967. During their college rodeo days Sue was reserve champion barrel racer in the southern region while Randy was reserve national champion bull rider twice both in the Southern Region (1965-66) and Southwest Region (1967 to date).
Although Tarleton was a member of the initial formation of the NIRA, the school never fielded a team prior to 1965. Their first “official” NIRA competition was at the Pan American College Rodeo in Edinburg, Texas, that spring.
When asked what he felt was important about college rodeo, he said it taught him how to deal with life itself. College rodeo is similar to the military if you do it correctly. The first year he attended Tarleton he lived in the dorm and traveled home to Fort Worth every week-end. When the rodeo team was formed, lifelong friendships were made and a group of people worked together to form a cohesive, competitive unit. They practiced, hauled and lived rodeo while sharing common goals. That group of men included Randy, Billy Albin (Sue’s brother), Charlie Bitters, Terry Walls and Joe Allen. It was a small team at first, but steadily grew to include Bobby Hungate, Johnny Kirk Edmonston and Lionel Lane who were members of the 1967 Champion Men’s Team
During 1966, Randy won his first bull riding as a professional in the Rodeo Cowboys Association. The following year he purchased his card and his bull riding career took off. Along his bull riding journey, he qualified for the National Finals Rodeo a total of 9 times while being awarded Reserve World Champion Bull Rider twice. Consistency was the key in the game of rodeo and Randy proved it year after year during his career in bull riding from 1967 to 1978 with those NFR qualifications.
In 1975, Randy rode the famous bull Oscar owned by RCS Rodeo Company. The bull had an awesome record of over 300 outs with only 8 riders completing an 8 second ride. Two of those rides were credited to Randy. Oscar was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame at the end of his career.
Other career highs that were bestowed on Randy included being honored by several organizations including the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2006, and both Tarleton Rodeo’s Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame Town Square, Stephenville, Tx in 2013. Induction into the Bull Riders’ Hall of Fame followed in 2017. During that ceremony of the latter event, Randy said that he would have been unable to rodeo or achieve what he did without the love and support of his wife, Sue.
Another recognition of his ability was being the only bull rider ever to appear on commemorate bottles of Dr. Pepper. In 1975, the honor was for the 79th Anniversary of the Annual Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth and in 1976 for West Texas Fair & Rodeo. The bull in the picture was famous #13 owned and bred by stock contractors Beutler & Sons.
The families of both Sue and Randy were well established in the Quarter Horse business of breeding top horses prior their marriage. Randy’s dad, Cliff Magers was well known and respected in the cutting horse industry owning many champion horses including Poco Tivio. Earl Albin (Sue, Lou & Billy’s father) established an amazing line of horses based on his stud, Royal King. All 3 of the Albin college rodeo contestants were well mounted on offspring of Royal King. The sire produced cutting, halter, roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing horses with not only great ability, but outstanding minds and incredible conformation. Both studs have been inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.
Although both Sue and Randy are retired, (Sue after 40 years in a banking career and Randy after 23 years with PAM Transportation–driver of the year in 2012) they stand Royal Boonsmal at their Running M Quarter Horses in Comanche, Tx. Randy still competes in cutting and was awarded the Reserve World Champion Cutting Horse at the 2006 AQHA Select World Champion Show. Horses and college rodeo are in their blood and they are devoted to continuing their parents’ horse legacy. Next year will be their 50th consecutive year of breeding American Quarter Horses.
Their commitment to college rodeo continued through the years with Randy serving as the volunteer rodeo coach for Tarleton in 1989-92. In addition, both Sue & Randy were present at the initial NIRAA Meeting in 1992 during the College Finals.
