PUEBLO, Colo. – Lyle Sankey has always welcomed a call from good friend and 2003 PBR Ring of Honor inductee Cody Custer.

However, what Sankey didn’t know earlier this year was that his old friend had reached out to extend an invitation. That invitation would elevate Sankey into an exclusive club that Custer had joined in 2003. He was calling to inform Sankey that he had been selected as a 2017 PBR Ring of Honor inductee.

Sankey will join fellow Ring of Honor inductee Ricky Bolin, Jim Shoulders Award winners Doug Scott and Bill Selman, Sharon Shoulders Award winner Julie Carrillo and Brand of Honor winner Mossy Oak Mudslinger as the guests of honor at the 2017 Heroes & Legends ceremony in Las Vegas prior to the Built Ford Tough World Finals Nov. 1-5.

Needless to say, it was a call that Sankey was more than happy to receive.

“It’s obviously an honor,” Sankey said. “It was a total surprise. I didn’t even consider that it was a possibility, and so getting the call from Cody was definitely fun and a surprise.”

Sankey went on to say that being recognized for his contributions to Western sports and the early days of the PBR meant so much more now that the sport has grown immensely since his riding days.

“The PBR has definitely been an organization that has taken the sport to new heights,” Sankey said. “It was started with a vision and that vision has continued to expand and not only make it great for the cowboys, (but) so much better for the stock contractors.

“It’s just an honor to be recognized as one of the early members of bull riding before the PBR exploded.”

Sankey would know. From 1976 to 1980, Sankey became one of only four men to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in bareback, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He also won the bull riding average in 1978 and 1980, riding nine bulls each time.

Since retiring from competition, Sankey has focused his attention toward building the next generation of rodeo stars through coaching and mentoring at Sankey Rodeo Schools. His namesake school was among the first full-time rodeo schools in the country holding clinics across the United States.

The shift from fierce competitor to wise mentor wasn’t immediately natural to Sankey, but he admitted that the challenge of teaching has continued to drive him long since his retirement from competition. He counts it among one of his biggest contributions to the Western sports world.

“Probably the greatest (contribution) I would say is the rodeo schools we do and just the development of future champions.” Sankey said. “That’s really a fun part of the sport that started when I was still competing, but it has continued now long after I’ve been out of the arena.

“It’s just fun to see those guys on TV living their dreams now.”

Sankey recalled his humble first “class,” a short two-day bull riding program put together by Sankey and his brother, Ike, after local riders around Wichita, Kansas, kept asking.

Lyle admitted that his brother was the better coach, but Lyle continued to put on more and more schools after Ike had moved on from coaching.

With every school or clinic, Lyle became more connected with rodeo hopefuls of all ages.

“I really enjoyed doing it,” Sankey said. “I remember all the people who helped along the way in my competitive efforts even once I was in pro rodeo. So doing a school seemed like a really natural thing to do.”

He has found a new passion in helping others find their best, and he has been touched by those who personally thank him for helping them grow.

“I’ve gotten some of the most incredible letters from guys,” Sankey said. “It doesn’t take much of those to keep you motivated like that.”

Sankey didn’t expect teaching to be the unique challenge that it is, and that it would teach him as much as he has taught others. That growing challenge has kept Sankey motivated as he has looked for new and better ways to communicate.

“The biggest challenge was learning to meet people where they were at,” Sankey said. “Not everybody responds to the same kind of push or pull, and personalities are so different, and really it’s still difficult in a short period of time.”

It was an interesting career turn for Sankey, who came to bull riding later in life. Namely, the summer following his junior year of high school when he took a chance at a Little Britches rodeo. Despite bucking off, he knew that it was a calling he was inexplicably drawn to.

In fact, his late start is a point of emphasis in his classes. In Sankey’s view, it proves that regardless of age, a rider can still fulfill the potential they have if they want it enough.

Sankey hopes that he can continue to find and help build the next generation of rodeo stars, and he believes his induction into the Ring of Honor is another tool he can use to demonstrate just how vast someone’s possibilities can be if they can be brave.

“I would hope that being in the Ring of Honor for me will help me continue the growth of the sport,” Sankey said. “I think the sky is the limit. I really do.”