Leon Coffee: getting to know the Barrel Man himself

Considered to be one of the greatest rodeo performers in the history of the sport, Leon Coffee has etched a legendary career capturing numerous awards, including an induction into the Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Though Coffee began his career in bull riding, he ended up finding himself being the one protecting the cowboys from the bulls.

“I started off riding bulls when I was nine years old,” Coffee said. “I did the little britches rodeos and the high school rodeos before I went off to the army. When I came back, a friend of mine asked me if I could fight these bulls. He told me all I had to do was run fast and act goofy.”

Coffee became known as the “Disco Bullfighter” and “Boogie Man” for his ability to dance in front of the bulls. His work as a bullfighter became so well known that Coffee worked at what is often considered the most prestigious rodeo — the National Finals Rodeo — in 1979 and 1984. He was named PRCA Rodeo Clown of the Year in 1983.

Despite finding his stride as a bullfighter, injuries eventually caught up to Coffee, limiting his mobility. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“At a certain age, you decide that you are not going to have the physical ability to do it,” Coffee said. “I ended up breaking my leg along with dealing some other injuries, so … they put me in the barrel. They said I did such a good job that I was going to stay put there, which was fine by me. It’s been a long, hard trail, but one I have enjoyed.”

Coffee became one of the three performers to work the NFR both as a bullfighter and as a “Barrel Man,” working the NFR in 1991, 1994, and 1997 in his new role.

With the duties of barrel man, Coffee not only helps out his fellow bullfighters but also brings his own style of entertainment.

“The job is to just entertain the people in the stands,” Coffee said. “That is the number one priority. But it is also an island in a sea of sharks.”

As fun as the job can be, Coffee said being a bullfighter is perhaps one of the most dangerous occupations to work in.

“The bible says there is no greater feat than laying down your life for your brother,” Coffee said. “That is what we do out there. Once someone has either been bucked off or gotten off the bull, that person is disorientated, so we have to go out there and grab the bull’s attention to move him away from the cowboy.”

“To do that is a great feat of courage and determination because, physically, you are not supposed to do that,” he continued. “That bull has four feet compared to two, and he is eight feet long, and you are a little bitty, so you’re going to lose. It’s all about maneuvering the bull to get where you need to be.”

Though Coffee has worked on some of the biggest rodeos in the world, including Rodeo Houston, the legend still makes time for the one rodeo that kickstarted his career: the Wimberley VFW Rodeo.

“I worked this rodeo during the 70s, and I ended up returning 31 years later,” Coffee said. “Next year will be 20 years of me working the Wimberley Rodeo.”