Jack Thomas "Peppy" McKinney

Calf, Team, and Steer Roper, & WotPR Committee Arena Director
1929-2011

Born in El Paso, Texas to J.T. “Mac” and Clarice Erma McKinney, on November 2, 1929, Peppy McKinney moved to the Pecos with his parents. Before moving, he competed in rodeos at both the high school and college level. He started competing professionally in 1947 in calf roping, steer roping and team tying and continued to compete until 1980.

Peppy participated in his first rodeo at the age of nine. In high school he participated in the National Championship High School Rodeo in calf roping, finishing as high as fourth place. He served on the West of the Pecos Rodeo committee for several years and was the Arena Director from 1960 until 1969. Thanks to his untiring efforts, Peppy was instrumental in getting the steer roping approved for Pecos for the first time in 1966. He also assisted in bringing the National Finals Steer Roping to Pecos, Texas, in 1969.

One of the biggest thrills of Peppy’s rodeo career was tying the fastest calf at Madison Square Garden in 1955. Peppy was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and an Army Veteran.

Peppy McKinney passed away on March 18, 2011. He has four sons, Mark, Jim, John Michael and Jack and five grandchildren, Matthew, Sean, Nina, Jett, Stephen and Allie.