A Tribute to Ty Murray:
Kendra Santos

The Western world will never be the same without Ty Murray — the greatest all-around cowboy of all time — in the arena.

The King of the Cowboys retired at the top of his game in May after a storied $3 million career, and left fans wondering who would be his heir apparent. Who would step up next to fill his boots?

The answer: No one. It can’t be done.

The PBR saluted the 33-year-old living legend October 26 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and sent him on to the next phase of his life in style. “A Tribute to Ty Murray” was just that, and Murray’s family, friends and fans gathered to share in the fun.

PBR Vice President and Murray’s longtime traveling partner and best friend Cody Lambert emceed the festivities, and told tales of the road that drew both tears and laughter. He was joined on stage by a number of Murray’s cowboy friends, including Adriano Moraes, Clint Branger, Michael Gaffney, Jim Sharp, Justin McBride, Cody Custer, Adam and Gilbert Carrillo.

“I was a farmer and a tractor driver,” Moraes said. “Bull riding gave me the opportunity to come to this country, the greatest country in the world, and make a great living. The first professional ride I ever watched here in the States was Ty riding a bucking horse called Cricket at the NFR. We became friends, and I am a great fan of Ty’s. He loves what he does, and he’s the only one who could win every time.”

At that point, Moraes’ eyes met Murray’s

“Ty, being the best that ever lived you could have been a cocky son of a gun,” he said. “But you never were. I cried when I heard the news that you were retiring. You are the greatest, and tonight I tip my hat to you.”

Branger followed that up with a short and sweet, “I just want to take my hat off to you, Ty. That pretty much says it all.”

“You either stepped up or got left behind,” Gaffney said. “I owe a lot of thanks to this guy. He’s a special guy. And I can tell my kids and grandkids that I rode with Ty Murray.”

They all spoke of being honored simply to share an era with the masterful Murray, with the exception of Sharp, who relived a phone-booth wrestling match they had one time (Sharp claims he won.). To keep the sentimental tensions in check, Murray’s friend and sponsor Charlie Horky hired a comedian, who stepped up and made everyone laugh until their stomach muscles hurt.

But ultimately, it was “Klete” Lambert who brought the house down. He talked of the torturous hell it was to raise the teen-aged Murray during his rookie year, but how the table turned on who learned more from who from there.

“I wasn’t old enough to watch Babe Ruth play, and I wasn’t smart enough to spend the money to watch Michael Jordan play,” Lambert said. “But I’ve been a million miles with Ty Murray, and it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Murray and his rock star girlfriend Jewel wrote a song about all those miles called, “Til We Run Out of Road,” which she sang after a few words on the man of this and every other hour in rodeo history.
“Ty is a stand-up guy who says what he means and does what he says,” Jewel said. “He’s earned the title of hero, especially to me.”

Young country talent Tommy Shane Steiner, who comes from a rodeo dynasty himself, opened and closed the party.

The guest of honor had a few words of his own in the end. He spoke of the bond that bull riding’s inherent danger builds amongst the cowboys.

“When there’s a chance you could get killed every day it brings you closer together,” he explained.

Then he turned to the head table and his family.

“My parents (Butch and Joy) always put my sisters (Kim, who turned 40 that night, and Kerri) and I first,” Murray said. “My dad taught me how to be fearless and tough — not by telling me, but by showing me. And I learned so much from Cody and Jim — all the good stuff from Cody and all the bad stuff from Jim.

“I had a great career, but all the fun I’ve had and am still having is worth a lot more to me than any gold buckle. I never set out to be famous. I always just wanted to be a great cowboy, and the best cowboy I could possibly be. I know in my heart that I tried my guts out every time I nodded my head, and that’s good enough for me.”