Bull kills volunteer at high school rodeo finals

Charley Able, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 27, 2006 at midnight

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A Crested Butte man volunteering at the Colorado State High School Rodeo Association state finals died Sunday after a bull kicked him in the chest, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office said Monday.

James "Jimmy" Clark, 64, was pronounced dead at St. Anthony Central Hospital late Sunday.

Clark, a veteran bull rider and former national Old-Timers Rodeo champion, was injured hours earlier after opening the gate for a bull rider. When the bull left the chute, it did a twisting turn as it kicked, hitting Clark in the chest, witnesses said.

Clark was alert and talking when paramedics carried him across the Jefferson County Fairgrounds arena to an ambulance about 3 p.m., the witnesses said.

The coroner's office had not determined the cause of death, said Triena Harper, chief deputy coroner.

The unexpected death was "pretty devastating" to the rodeo association, said Barb Roskopf, the association's national director.

"He left a big hole in our organization because he was so dependable and loved the kids so much," Ros-kopf said. "He would do anything for those kids."

Roskopf said she was with Clark's family when doctors told them that Clark had died of "unsurvivable internal injuries" about 6 p.m. Sunday.

The accident occurred near the end of the bull-riding event, with only three or four riders remaining to compete, Roskopf said.

Roskopf said she believes Clark's death is the first fatality at a Colorado State High School Rodeo Association event.

Rodeo riders are frequently injured by bulls, and many of them wear flak jackets and helmets. The association requires bronc and bull riders to wear protective vests and use mouth pieces. Helmets are not required, but riders are encouraged to use them.

Injuries to workers who handle the chutes and gates are rare, she said.

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