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Bobby Kerr - 2021

  • Writer: TCHOF
    TCHOF
  • Nov 12, 2020
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 24

Entrepreneur & Horseman

Induction Year: 2021

Birth – Death:

  • Born October 31, 1957, Ontario, Canada

  • Died September 5, 2025, Hico, Texas

Primary Discipline: Rodeo

Profession / Role: Horseman, Specialty Act Performer, and Founder of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame

Primary Skills: Mustang Training; Specialty Act Performance; Horsemanship

Known For: Founding the Texas Cowboy Hall of FameAward-winning specialty acts featuring trained mustangs


Early Life and Background

Robert David “Bobby” Kerr was born on October 31, 1957, in Ontario, Canada, to June Fraser and Bert Kerr. He was raised in the Canadian countryside alongside his brother, where he developed a strong work ethic and an adventurous nature. As a teenager, Kerr became captivated by the cowboy lifestyle after watching Western films, particularly those featuring Roy Rogers. Inspired by those images, he became determined to pursue life as a cowboy. At the age of fourteen, he left Canada and traveled to the United States, a decision that marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to horsemanship and Western culture.


Professional Career and Rise

Kerr built his career through decades of hands-on work with horses, becoming known as a master horseman and trainer. Over more than fifty years, he trained and showed horses in roping, reining, working cow horse, and cutting. His reputation grew through his work with American mustangs, which he trained into reliable and engaging performance horses. These efforts eventually led him into rodeo specialty acts, where his creativity and horsemanship set him apart.


Before gaining national attention in the arena, Kerr spent more than twenty years as a craftsman and metal artist. He produced custom Western furnishings, including chandeliers, furniture, signage, and architectural elements, many of which remain in use across Texas. In 1984, he married Susan Kerr, who became his partner in both business and vision. Together, they founded the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Hico, Texas, in 1997, with the goal of preserving and honoring Texas Western heritage. In 2001, the museum relocated to the Fort Worth Stockyards, where it continues to operate.


Kerr entered his first Extreme Mustang Makeover in 2011, beginning a new chapter of his career. His performances blended advanced horsemanship with humor, poetry, and visual storytelling, often incorporating vintage cars and trained mustangs. These acts made him a popular and recognizable figure at rodeos nationwide. He won the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover in 2012, placed second and third at the Mustang Million in 2013, and claimed another Extreme Mustang Makeover championship in 2020. He was also a featured specialty act at the National Finals Rodeo and earned multiple Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Specialty Act of the Year honors.


In addition to his work in the arena, Kerr collaborated with his son, Cody Kerr, to design and build custom motorcycles. Their craftsmanship earned recognition within the custom bike community and reflected Kerr’s ability to apply Western artistry across multiple disciplines.


Legacy and Impact

Bobby Kerr’s influence on rodeo and Western culture is rooted in both preservation and innovation. As a performer, he helped elevate the specialty act category through original concepts that combined horsemanship, entertainment, and storytelling. His work with mustangs demonstrated the potential of these horses in professional performance settings and contributed to broader appreciation for their versatility and trainability.


Equally significant was his role as a founder of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. By helping establish the institution, Kerr created a lasting platform to recognize and preserve the contributions of cowboys, cowgirls, and Western industry leaders. His induction into the same Hall of Fame in 2021 reflected both his personal achievements and his foundational role in the organization.


Later Years and Death

In 2021, Kerr was diagnosed with cancer. Despite his illness, he continued to train horses, perform, and remain involved in the rodeo community for several more years. He passed away on September 5, 2025, at his home near Hico, Texas, at the age of sixty-seven. His legacy endures through the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, his award-winning performances, and the lasting impact he had on audiences, fellow horsemen, and the broader Western community.


HONORS AND RECOGNITION

  • Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion and Fan Favorite — 2012

  • Mustang Million Finalist — 2013

  • Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Specialty Act of the Year — multiple years, including 2017 and 2019

  • Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion — 2020

  • National Finals Rodeo Specialty Act — multiple appearances

  • Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame — Inducted 2021


LINKS AND REFERENCES

 




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