EVENTS
Team Roper, Champion, 1950
Born Marvin H. Sorrels in 1913 at Patagonia, this Arizona cowboy was a great all-around hand. Loaded with natural ability, “Buckshot” Sorrels learned to cowboy on Arizona ranches during the 1920s.
Sorrels entered professional rodeo in the 1930s, and his first big win came in steer wrestling in 1932 at Prescott. Although specializing in team roping, he is one of the few to have won firsts in calf roping, bulldogging, and steer wrestling in the same year at Cheyenne. In 1947 and 1948 he was the IRA champion calf roper, and in 1950 he captured the RAA team-roping crown. Sorrels continued to compete into the early 1950s.
His friend and competitor, Toots Mansfield, once remarked, “I think Buck is one of the best all-around ropers of all time. I also think he is the toughest of all team ropers.” In 1977 Buckshot Sorrels died of a heart attack while practice roping at his Arizona ranch.
