We are sad to announce that on December 16, 2021, at the age of 79, Barry Lynn Burk of Durant, Ok, passed away. Barry was a ProRodeo Hall of Fame tie-down roper Barry Burk. Burk, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 18 times – 16 in tie-down roping (1964-77, 1979-80) and twice in steer wrestling (1963, 1969). He also competed as a team roping header at the 1968 NFR.
At the Hall ceremony it was said he was the best roper never to have won a gold buckle. From 1967 to 1975, Burk was a perennial contender for the tie-down roping world championship. He was second in the world standings from 1967-70, was third in 1971, second in 1972-73, third in 1974 and runner-up again in '75. He had also finished third in the world in 1964 at the age of 22.
Burk was also an accomplished steer wrestler and team roper. He first qualified for the NFR as a steer wrestler in 1963 at the age of 21 and did that again in 1969 when he finished fifth in the all-around world standings. He also competed as a team roping header at the 1968 NFR, with qualifying partner Frank Ferreira Jr.
After Burk retired from competing, he began hosting his Barry Burk Junior Roping Championships, and the family will host the 37th edition Memorial Day weekend in his hometown of Ardmore, Okla."One of his last wishes was to go to the BB Junior Roping Championships in 2021," Blair said. "He went and put the roping on and got to see all his friends and he loved that. After he had a Hall of Fame rodeo career, he gave back to the sport he loved."
Barry is preceded in death by son, Opie.
Barry is survived by his wife, Cheryl; brother, Roy, and his wife, Melinda; son, Blair and his wife, Chelsey, and their children, T'Lee and Bryler Roy; step-grandchildren, Kennedy Phillips, Hudson Phillips, and Gentry Phillips.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. (CST), Dec. 21 at Victory Life Church in Durant, Okla. The burial service is at 1 p.m. (CST), Dec. 22 at the cemetery in Comanche, Okla.
