The American Rodeo Gallery is closed for renovation. Prosperity Junction will be closed to guests April 8-10. The Museum will be closing at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 for a special event.
Leon Coffee was born on September 11, 1954. He began his rodeo career riding bulls, but his humor and bullfighting ability overrode his desire to compete in the arena. Coffee initially began bullfighting and clowning with Mike Moore — the duo was called Salt & Pepper — along with his mule Matilda, who was part of his act. Named the PRCA Clown of the Year in 1983 and among the top three for this honor from 1984 to 2001, Coffee worked many of the top PRCA rodeos for years, but with longevity came injuries: 14 knee surgeries and 133 broken bones.
A Wrangler Bullfight Tour finalist from 1980 to 1985 and a 1999 Wrangler Bullfight Tour barrelman, Coffee worked the Texas Circuit Finals for eight years, the Canadian Finals in 1985 and 1986 and he was a National Circuit Finals barrelman in 1987. A Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee in 2005 and a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee in 2018, Coffee is one of only three individuals to be both a National Finals barrelman and bullfighter.
Outside the arena, Coffee has appeared in the films 8 Seconds, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys and Jericho and has been featured in Texas Monthly and on CBS Mornings. Grand marshal of the 2023 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo parade, Coffee announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 Houston rodeo.
A U.S. Army veteran, he lives in Blanco, Texas.
Bio
Leon Coffee was born on September 11, 1954. He began his rodeo career riding bulls, but his humor and bullfighting ability overrode his desire to compete in the arena. Coffee initially began bullfighting and clowning with Mike Moore — the duo was called Salt & Pepper — along with his mule Matilda, who was part of his act. Named the PRCA Clown of the Year in 1983 and among the top three for this honor from 1984 to 2001, Coffee worked many of the top PRCA rodeos for years, but with longevity came injuries: 14 knee surgeries and 133 broken bones.
A Wrangler Bullfight Tour finalist from 1980 to 1985 and a 1999 Wrangler Bullfight Tour barrelman, Coffee worked the Texas Circuit Finals for eight years, the Canadian Finals in 1985 and 1986 and he was a National Circuit Finals barrelman in 1987. A Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee in 2005 and a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee in 2018, Coffee is one of only three individuals to be both a National Finals barrelman and bullfighter.
Outside the arena, Coffee has appeared in the films 8 Seconds, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys and Jericho and has been featured in Texas Monthly and on CBS Mornings. Grand marshal of the 2023 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo parade, Coffee announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 Houston rodeo.
