Pickett, Dee

All-Around • Inducted 2003

Dee Pickett, born Sept. 8, 1955, in San Diego, Calif., discovered rodeo when he was 7 years old and his family moved to Idaho.  Although he had the opportunity to tryout for two professional football teams after his standout football career as a quarterback at Boise State University, Pickett followed his love of rodeo and went on to win two world titles in 1984, the all-around and team roping. Pickett credits his uncle with teaching him the finer points of roping. His success in the rodeo arena began with the PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year title in 1978, the year he joined the association and his first year to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. He went on to qualify for another 19 NFRs. A shattered wrist resulting from a freak accident in 1981 cost Pickett the all-around world title. Even though the injury hindered his performance, Pickett never considered quitting rodeo. In 1984 it all came together with partner Mike Beers. In 1984, Pickett set an NFR record of $30,677, season earnings of more than $122,000, a tie-down roping aggregate crown and two world titles. Pickett is considered one of ProRodeo’s best athletes ever.

World Championships: 2

All-Around: 1984

Team Roping: 1984

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

All-Around: 1984

Tie-Down Roping: 1984

Rookie of the Year

Overall: 1978

RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion

All-Around: 1991

RAM Circuit Year-End Champion

Wilderness Circuit:

All-Around: 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986

Team Roping: 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1994

Tie-Down Roping: 1980, 1981, 1985

Born: September 8, 1955 in San Diego, California

Joined PRCA: 1978

NFR Qualifications: 20

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
All-Around: 1985

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
Tie-Down Roping: 1984

Clovis Rodeo / Clovis, CA
Team Roping: 1987
Tie-Down Roping: 1991 (tie)

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
Team Roping: 1982

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
Tie-Down Roping: 1981

Dodge City Roundup / Dodge City, KS
All-Around: 1986
Team Roping: 1985 (tie), 1986

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
All-Around: 1986

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, TX
Tie-Down Roping: 1984

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
All-Around: 1990
Team Roping: 1986, 1990

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Team Roping: 1979, 1984, 1987
Tie-Down Roping: 1980 (tie)

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
Team Roping: 1990

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo / Ogden, UT
Team Roping: 1985
Tie-Down Roping: 1979, 1982

Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Team Roping: 1982, 1985, 1988, 1993
Tie-Down Roping: 1979

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Team Roping: 1987
Tie-Down Roping: 1992

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
All-Around: 1992

Rowell Ranch Rodeo / Hayward, CA
Team Roping: 1994
Tie-Down Roping: 1981

Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo / Spanish Fork, UT
All-Around: 1992
Team Roping: 1978, 1979 (tie)
Tie-Down Roping: 1985

World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
All-Around: 1984
Tie-Down Roping: 1984