EVENTS
Calf Roper, Champion, 1932
Steer Roper, Champion, 1935
A top hand and consistent winner during rodeo’s golden era, Richard Merchant was born on the Bar X 7 Ranch near Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 1896. After cowboying in Texas and serving in World War I, Merchant joined the rodeo circuit in 1921.
In his first contest, at Midland, Texas, Merchant won the bronc riding, but after 1922 he specialized in roping. He compiled the winning calf-roping average at Madison Square Garden in 1923 and captured the event’s title at Calgary in 1927, 1928, and 1930 and at Prescott in 1926 and 1933. In a brief career he also won at all of the major venues and was crowned calf-roping champion in 1932. In 1935 he was declared champion steer roper as well.
Richard Merchant severely injured a knee while roping at Pendleton in 1936. He retired from competition and became foreman of the Santa Lucia Ranch, near Tucson, Arizona. In his later years he served as arena director for the Phoenix and Tucson rodeos. He died in 1977.
