Funk Receives Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award for Immeasurable Impact on PBR

By: Darci Miller

OKLAHOMA CITY – At the 2023 PBR Heroes and Legends ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Bob Funk Sr. was not on hand to accept the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I hit the dirt for about 8 seconds,” Funk joked in a pre-filmed statement, “and I’m getting back up and getting some strength, but I hope you have a great time and enjoy your fellowship today with one another.”

For a man who thrives on helping people, it was only fitting that he had some help in accepting his award.

The PBR Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award, named for perhaps the greatest Western sports athlete of all time, recognizes those who, throughout their life and professional career, have contributed to the advancement of the sport of bull riding and rodeo. Their efforts include significant contributions that have had a positive and continued impact on the development and growth of the bull riding and rodeo industries.

“Mr. Funk did so much for rodeo and so much for the PBR,” Marvin Paul Shoulders, Jim Shoulders’ son, as he presented the award.

Funk is a multi-hyphenate businessman who, in 1983, founded Express Employment Professionals, headquartered in Oklahoma City, which has since grown into a multi-billion-dollar company with more than 780 franchises that employ upwards of 500,000 people globally. Among numerous other positions he has held, Funk has also been chairman of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which now hosts Heroes and Legends and the newly launched PBR Hall of Fame.

He’s also chaired the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and the Oklahoma Youth Expo. He has been named Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record newspaper, Man of the Year by Impact OKC Magazine, and he’s been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the International Franchise Association Hall of Fame, and the Sales and Marketing Executives International Hall of Fame.

“I don’t think anybody will understand just how involved Bob Funk has been in the success of the PBR over the years,” said PBR Commissioner and CEO Sean Gleason. “He’s a promoter partner, has been for many, many decades. He established rider and athlete representation when it was the Wild, Wild West, and brought a level of professionalism to it. And that helped us grow to yet another level. I owe the world to Bob Funk, and I wish I could be there to induct him myself.”

Funk was raised on a dairy farm in Washington state, instilling in him a deep love of the Western lifestyle. He’s still involved in the cattle business today.

“Definitely a cowboy in the boardroom and a cowboy on the ranch,” said Brandon Bates. “He can wear both of those hats really, really well.”

But ultimately, what Funk wants to be known for is helping people. In addition to Express Employment Professionals, he launched additional businesses, including Express Sports, now known as Prodigal LLC, which served as a representation agency for dozens of bull riders and helped grow various premier series PBR events in Oklahoma.

Funk assisted with the growth of careers for athletes, including World Champions Chris Shivers, Ednei Caminhas, Jess Lockwood, and others.

“Bob Funk just changed the Western sports lifestyle to treat the cowboys with respect, dignity,” said Paulo Crimber. “Two times, he helped me in a bad situation. It’s just amazing what that guy got and how much he does for others. I owe my life to him. That’s the true cowboy code right there.”

Funk’s personal philosophy is simple: you’re only as good as the last person you helped.

“My object is to help people be successful,” Funk said. “And these guys that ride these bulls and are at the rodeos, they are true athletes, and they have to build up their strength in order to be successful.

“Earning money isn’t that much fun, but giving money is a lot of fun.”

Bob Funk Jr., his son, was on hand in Oklahoma City to accept the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf.

“As most of you know, Bob Sr., for him, it’s all about the people. Always has been,” Bob Funk Jr. said. “Anything he’s ever done and been a part of in the rodeo world – that hasn’t changed. His motivations have always been to recognize the athletes for their daring, their courage, their honor, and how they represent some of the best qualities of Western values and cowboy effort. It has been his privilege to be part of this from the beginning with Billy Etbauer and going on 20-plus years being part of the rodeo world, and most importantly, a part of the PBR.”

The PBR may not have grown into what it is today without the impact of Bob Funk Sr. And for that, his name will be enshrined among the most important in PBR history forever.

“The PBR is just a great organization, and they’ve done a great job for the cowboys,” Funk said. “We, as agents for the cowboys, raised about $16 million for them over the past few years, and we’re so proud of them because they’re great athletes, and they just don’t get paid enough for what they do, for risking their lives and their future every time they get a bull and get out of the chute. So thank you very much, I appreciate it, and hopefully, we can return the favor to you many times over.”

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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