Butch: Bullriding
Kaye: Bullriding, Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling
Sandy: Bullriding, Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling
In 1975, Butch, Sandy and Kaye Kirby became the first three brothers to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in the same year. Butch was born April 24, 1955. Unlike his brothers, his rodeo career began not as a trick-rider at age 5, but as a bull rider beginning at age 15. He became the World Champion Bull Rider in 1978 and retired in 1989. After retiring, he became a PRCA official and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) judge. An avid golfer, Butch co-founded Cowboys for Cowboys, an organization that puts on charitable golf tournaments. He resides in Stephenville, Texas. Kaye was born May 2, 1952. He began trick riding at age 5 with the family from 1955 to 1966. He competed in all roughstock events and steer wrestling from 1967 until his death in 1978. He won the All Around at Kissimmee, Florida, in 1970; the bareback event in the 1975 Dallas rodeo and was the Frontier Circuit Bareback Champion from 1972 through 1975. He qualified for the NFR in 1975. Sandy was born April 8, 1949, and from 1955 to 1964 was a trick rider. He competed in all roughstock events and steer wrestling from 1964 to 1986. He qualified for the NFR ten times and won the 1973 Bareback Average and 1974 Bull Riding Average. He also won the Calgary bull riding and Cheyenne bareback, as well as the 1986 Texas Circuit Bareback title. He was only 5 when he joined RCA. Later he became a stock contractor for Billy Bob’s of Texas, putting on weekend bull ridings and providing the stock. Today he lives in Hubbard, Texas.
