National Senior Pro Rodeo Association
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2011 HALL OF FAME

Reta Birkhead

Reta Burnett Birkhead was born in Fisher County, Texas on March 10, 1940. She grew up on the family Polled Hereford stock farm and graduated from Hobbs High School in Hobbs, TX in 1958.

Reta attended and graduated from Sul Ross State University in Alpine Texas in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She met and married E.P. Birkhead Jr. a calf roper, at Sul Ross. Rodeo became a big part of her life. Reta and E.P. have one son, James and one grandson, Weston. They live In Midland, Texas and own Birkhead Feed Store.

Reta was a school teacher for 33 years. She taught in Odessa, Texas for 31 years and San Antonio Texas for two years. She taught first, second, and third grades, gifted and talented classed third through sixth grades, and was a supervisor for the student teachers of University of Texas Permian Basin.

Reta entered ribbon roping when she was 45 years old in Fort Worth, Texas, placing third in the event. That changed her life.

Reta was elected NSPRA Ribbon Roping Director in 1994 and served until 2000. Reta and E.P. enjoyed rodeoing in so many states and Canada, and making life-long friends.

Reta treasures her varied roles in life a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, ribbon- runner, and NSPRA Ribbon Roping Director.

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