Allen McCloy

Allen Wilson McCloy was born May 8, 1947 in Amarillo, TX to Wilson and Mary Nan Gillispie McCloy.

Allen grew up on a ranch south of Rosebud, NM with his parents, three younger brothers and one sister. In 1960, they moved to Morse, Texas, where his family owned and operated a cattle feeding operation for many years.

Allen graduated from Morse High School in 1965 and attended Panhandle State College on an academic scholarship. He was a member of the PSC Rodeo team, Livestock Judging Team, and Meat Judging Team. He graduated from Panhandle State University in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. In 1970, he went to Texas Tech University where he received his Master’s degree in Ruminant Nutrition. While at Texas Tech, he taught Livestock Evaluation, coached the Livestock Judging team and was a member of the rodeo team.

Allen married Karen (Shorty) Ward in 1968. They had a daughter, Kelly and a son, Marty. Both of the children attended Panhandle State and were members of the very successful OPSU rodeo team. Marty was the 1994 NIRA National Champion Calf Roper.

Allen was very involved with his children throughout their rodeo participation from peewee play days to high school, college and professional careers while the family operated McCloy Feedlot and McCloy Rodeo.

Shorty passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. In 1999, Allen married Janice Kelly. In 2006, they sold McCloy Feedlot to focus their attention on running McCloy Rodeo and enjoying the activities of their six grandchildren.

Allen served on the Pringle Morse CISD school board for twelve years, five of those years as president. He also served on the Tri State and Texas State High School Rodeo Associations Board of Directors, Texas Cowboys Rodeo Association (TCRA), and the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA) Board of Directors as well as the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Board of Directors. He also volunteered as a 4-H adult leader for many years. McCloy Rodeo has provided help and rodeo stock to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch for their annual rodeo and rodeo schools for numerous years.

Allen has been awarded the Stock Contractor of the Year ten times in the TCRA and has produced the Rodeo of the Year in both the TCRA and KPRA many times. McCloy Rodeo has bred and raised some of the best bulls and horses in the rodeo business with many year-end and finals stock award in both associations.

Allen and Janice have always enjoyed working with kids and continue to open their home to anybody needing a place to unload a horse or hang their hat as they pass through on the rodeo trail. Many of the young rodeo contestants that Allen has helped and encouraged through junior high, high school, and college rodeo have gone on to have very successful careers in professional rodeo.

Rodeo has always been an important part of the McCloy family life. McCloy Rodeo takes pride in producing a fair, smooth, and efficient rodeo with no “waiting for action”. If you attend a McCloy Rodeo, while the National Anthem is playing it is a sure bet you will hear Allen hollering behind the bucking chutes as the bareback riders are getting ready, “Hock it in ‘em boys, I don’t want those riggings to slip.”

Allen has always said, “all of the things that I have accomplished in my life were possible because of the grace of God, the help and dedication of my family, many good friends, and colleagues.”