NSPRA member, Tomm Owens, 1994 – Dan Hubble
story by Terry Rhodes
Tomm Owens has been in the Senior Pros for about 10 years and is a big supporter of those at the helm of the organization. “The nice thing about this association is that the guys running it really enjoy rodeo and want to make it better. They all work at it really hard. It’s a good association and everybody is trying to make it better. We do need to have a few more rodeos. But I do think it’s coming back and growing.” Not one to just talk about growing the association, Tomm is involved in putting on the new timed event rodeo that will be held in Greeley, Colo. August 25th and 26th.
Tomm is the 2014 NSPRA World 50’s All Around Champion and 50’s Tie Down Champion. He competes in tie down, team roping, and ribbon roping. His wife, Debbie, also an NSPRA member, runs barrels, ropes, and is a ribbon runner for Tomm.
He also says that the NSPRA provides a great place for guys that want to continue to rodeo and compete can do so on a level playing field with people their own age. “It’s a chance for us older guys to go and rope and maybe win a little bit of money. I really like watching guys that are still roping in their 70’s. And I really like the social aspect of going to Senior Pro rodeos. We get to see people that we used to rodeo with years ago.” Tomm is a former PRCA member and has claimed Mountain State Circuit titles a couple of times.
Tomm grew up in the heart of rodeo country and started competing when he was a young boy. “I’m from Rockdale, Texas and my dad rodeoed and my whole family rodeoed so I started out riding bulls in high school and I filled my PRCA permit riding bulls. Later on, I quit bulls and started roping.” Tomm credits R. B. Caraway and Preston Menley as being two individuals that were instrumental in developing Tomm’s roping ability. When it’s time to nod and ride, Tomm says that getting the barrier right is the key. “For me I concentrate on the start. If you get out of the barrier good, that sets up the run and usually everything else will go right.”
The horse that Tomm depends on for a good run is owned by Ed Orr and is called Hudson. “He’s a cutting bred horse that Trevor Thiel has done a lot of training on. He’s been working really well for me. He’s calm and stands good in the box and he can really run.”
Tomm and Debbie live south of Greeley, Colo. where Tomm is busy with real estate and Debbie teaches school. “We have two kids. They went to Texas on rodeo scholarships, got married, and stayed down there.”
Tomm’s work in real estate in concentrated in ag properties. “I’ve always been in sales of some sort. Now I’m selling real estate for Orr Land Company; farms and ranches primarily. So I’m in the office part of the day and then out looking at properties or showing properties. Debbie and I also build and sell homes. We live in them for awhile and then sell them, so we’re usually involved in various home building projects.” Goals for the future are to continue to in real estate and rodeo.
