story by Lindsay Whelchel
The Lee family, of Flying L Rodeo Company, has had a long history with the Arkansas Cowboys Association, and now they’re back as a producer sanctioning their events with the ACA.
In 1957 Roy Lee moved from drought-stricken central Texas, to much greener pastures in Arkansas at Mount Vernon. Roy was a rodeo athlete in the Turtle Association riding bareback horses and doing some calf roping, explained Roy’s son, Jim.
In Arkansas, Roy met Lumas Shaw, and the two men started a rodeo company in 1959. By 1976, Roy was a founding member, and first president, of the ACA, holding card no. 2.
Eventually Roy, alongside his wife Kris and the children of the family, focused on their own weekly rodeos at the ‘Top of the Hill” in Mount Vernon, with the Flying L rodeo company.
Sadly, Roy passed away 22 years ago, and Kris passed earlier this year.
The children are carrying on the family tradition with four generations of Flying L rodeo. Though their own children keep them busy now, and they don’t have a weekly rodeo as a result, their schedule is still busy with rodeo, said Jim of his and his siblings’ role in Flying L.
“We always enjoy being together, and it’s fun to produce these rodeos. I think mom and dad would be very proud of us all working together and keeping these going,” Jim said.
He used to announce the rodeos, and his sisters Barbara and Joyce, all have duties. Their children and even grandchildren have joined in the effort too. Joyce’s son is a pickup man and Jim’s son flanks bulls.
“A family that rodeos together stays together, and we enjoy it. You’re going to have the good, and you’re going to have the bad, but we’ll all stick together and back each other on anything,” Jim said.
They’ve added bucking horses back into their program at Flying L, and were looking to add benefits for their contestants, many who start their rodeo careers as youngsters with the company. This was the reasoning behind the newly-sanctioned schedule with the ACA, Jim said. With added opportunities for contestants, it’s a win-win for Flying L and the ACA.
In keeping with their tradition of bringing youth up in rodeo, Flying L will also be organizing an Elite Youth Rodeo July 3, 2016 as the richest one-day youth rodeo in the state.
For more information visit flyinglrodeo.com.
