Notebook — Oct. 30

L.J. — a “simple guy:” Some things you might not know about recently retired professional bull rider L. J. Jenkins, who grew up in Texico:

• The L. J. stands for Larry Jenkins. His middle name is Dean.

“Mom didn’t like Larry and she didn’t want to call him L. D. ... So he’s always been L. J.,” said Sterling Bowers, Jenkins’ brother, who lives in Nebraska.

“It used to be a way to get under his skin to call him Larry. I still call him Larry to this day, but it’s become pretty much a term of endearment.”

If you’re not family, you’d best call him L. J.

• When Jenkins was a junior at Texico High School, he took a date to Allsup’s for a post-prom supper.

“He took her to McDonald’s first, but they were closed, so they ended up going to Allsup’s to eat chimichangas in full prom garb,” Bowers said.

Bowers said his brother has never been a health-food nut. While Allsup’s cuisine is a long way from Jenkins’ home in Southeast Oklahoma today, he still prefers “simple” food.

“He pretty much eats Totino’s pizza rolls and anything Marie Callender makes. He’s a pretty simple guy; no ego, just the same ol’ L. J., always good to everyone,” Bowers said.

• Jenkins rode legendary bull Voodoo Child once in five tries before the bull retired in 2011. Voodoo Child’s career record was 93-5. Jenkins was the second cowboy ever to ride the bull, according to pbr.com.

• Jay Bowers, Jenkins’ stepfather who still lives in Texico, said L. J. raises a commercial herd of 100 to 150 cattle today in addition to breeding bulls at his ranch near Porum, Oklahoma.

“He’s very knowledgeable; very scientifically knowledgeable about bulls,” Jay Bowers said.

Jenkins is in Clovis this weekend, helping organize the fifth annual L. J. Jenkins Invitational at the Curry County Events Center.

Bull riding begins at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday.

— Notebook was compiled by Editor David Stevens. Contact him at: [email protected] or find him on Facebook.