Akridge, Eddy

Courage and determination helped earn Eddy Akridge his fourth world bareback riding championship. The cowboy, born Jan. 8, 1929, in Pampa, Texas, had rolled to three consecutive world titles in the early 1950s before suffering a potentially career-ending knee injury. Ignoring his doctors’ advice to quit rodeo, he went on to have his best season ever. Akridge later reinjured his knee and was forced to retire. At the same time, he gave up his seat as bareback riding director on the PRCA Board of Directors. He wore a heavy brace for two years. But in 1959, Akridge decided to pursue a fourth world title. He retired the brace, endured the pain, and in 1961 captured his fourth world title. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.