04/18/2026
How many of you spotted this Legend at the Everett Bowman Arena Easter weekend?
Well if you didn’t, head to the Cowboy+ and find the 5th Annual Legends of the West ProRodeo and you will see him there behind the chutes with the one and only Jerry Honeycutt of Honeycutt Rodeo Inc.
We are so fortunate to have cowboys like Charlie calling Wickenburg home.
Charlie Sampson made history in 1982 when he became the first African American to win the PRCA World Championship in bull riding — a moment that changed rodeo forever.
Born on July 2, 1957, Sampson is 69 years old in 2026. His journey to the top wasn’t easy. Over a career that lasted nearly two decades, he competed against the toughest bulls in the sport and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) 11 times — a remarkable achievement in one of rodeo’s most dangerous events.
Sampson officially retired in 1994, but his connection to rodeo never truly ended. After leaving competition, he remained involved in the cowboy lifestyle — working on ranches, appearing at events, and continuing to inspire new generations of riders.
Away from the arena, he built a family life as well. He is married to Marilyn Casmon and has two sons, continuing his legacy beyond the sport.
Today, Charlie Sampson is remembered not just as a champion, but as a trailblazer — a man who broke barriers, endured hardship, and proved that determination can carry you to the very top.
