About the Author

KEN R KNOPP

      With three books and dozens of articles to his credit Ken R Knopp has written extensively about 19th century American history and horse culture including Confederate and Federal military horse equipment; American civilian riding equipment, British military saddlery; and the American saddle making, leather production and hardware industries. He is considered one of the most knowledgeable authorities on 19th century American saddlery in the world today.
      A native Midwesterner now living in Mississippi, Ken R. Knopp has spent most of his life living in, and in love with the culture and history of America and the Old South. With a B.S. degree in Agricultural Communications from Michigan State University he makes no claims of academia nor of being a “historical scholar” but rather a “lifelong student” with a passion for 19th century history. An unreconstructed risk taker and adventurer, Knopp blended numerous business pursuits and experiences from his varied background including 25 years in professional rodeo, real world adventures with horses as a working cowboy; rodeo cowboy; PR Man; movie consultant, extra, stuntman, and as an historian and writer, combined with his love for military history, saddlery and reenacting to produce some groundbreaking studies of American saddles and horse equipment. His first book, CONFEDERATE SADDLES & HORSE EQUIPMENT is widely acclaimed to be the most comprehensive study of the saddles and horse equipment manufactured and used by the legendary Southern horsemen. His newest project, AMERICAN RIDING SADDLES, 1790-1920 published in 2018 has set the bar for comprehensive understanding of 19th century American riding saddles, horse culture and their place in our nation’s history.

 
      For most of his adult life Ken R. Knopp made his living in the world of professional rodeo, rising to the top of his field marketing and helping produce some of the nation’s largest and most successful “indoor” PRCA rodeos and televised PBR Bull Ridings then later, in the financial industry, as a Financial Advisor. His work in professional rodeo, as a horseman and author provided him numerous opportunities in several variable endeavors including books, movies, documentaries, in television, live stage performances including the National Finals Rodeo, radio shows and public speaking engagements as well as writing PR material and feature articles for dozens of regional newspapers and industry magazines.
      Ken grew up with a fascination for history. When he was six years old his father introduced him to local Dr. James Cook, a former WWII combat surgeon and avid Civil War collector. Dr. Cook’s generosity, books and large collection of artifacts was the genesis for what would become a life long passion. As the son of a suburban pharmacist, Ken had no background or familial connections to horses or the rodeo business. He got his education at the “school of hard knocks”. As a teenager Ken owned horses and worked at a local stable. After high school he went to Michigan State University where he joined the Rodeo Team learning then competing in the roping and bareback bronc riding events. After two years he dropped out, moving to central Florida to make a living “day working” cattle during the week then “rodeoing” on the weekends. The “hard-road”, a back injury, (and “good sense”) finally prevailed upon him to finish college. With an eye on a career in the “business” of rodeo Ken returned to MSU and graduated in 1981 with a degree in Agriculture Communications (the only degree which required no chemistry or math). Moving to Nashville he took a job as “Publicist” under rodeo marketing pioneer Bruce Lehrke and Longhorn Rodeo Company (formerly Loretta Lynn’s Longhorn Rodeo). It was under Lehrke’s excellent tutorage that he learned the trade, working large indoor coliseum events in big cities all over the nation. In 1983, Ken left Longhorn Rodeo, formed his own independent marketing company and began freelancing large and small rodeo events across the country as well as supplementing his income and experiences in other endeavors eventually including work in several “period” movies and commercials as a skilled background extra and stunt work.
      It was during this time that Ken’s long dormant interest in military history and the Civil War was reawakened and led him into artifact collecting, historical research, writing, reenactments and movies. Over the next several years Ken worked several movie projects including the ABC blockbuster TV Mini-Series “North & South”; “The Alamo: The Price of Freedom” – A State of Texas IMAX movie production (still shown at the Alamo); Another ABC “movie from a book”, TV Mini-series about Custer at the Little Big Horn entitled, “Son of the Morning Star” and, the hugely successful, Academy award winning movie “Glory”. Other film projects followed.
      By the late 1980’s, Ken’s rodeo career had him devoting most of his time to work with James Harper and Ralph Morgan’s, Harper and Morgan Rodeo Company, then the nation’s largest producer of indoor “production” rodeos. As Marketing Director, Ken was responsible for the advertising, sponsorships, event staffing and publicity at up to twenty or twenty-five events a year as well as working with the rest of the H & M team producing, writing and acting in the company’s legendary, theme-inspired Opening Productions. These “live” short-story dramas emulated the old Buffalo Bill Wild West Show productions of the late 19th and early 20th  centuries. They were so well respected the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) hired Harper and Morgan to produce the 1990 NFR opening productions in Las Vegas. In 1994, back surgery permanently ended his horseback riding but not his enthusiasm for military history, research and writing. Over the next several years a growing career in the professional rodeo business, book projects and numerous articles absorbed his attentions. However, by 2001 Ken was growing tired of the politics and the difficulties of extended road life inherent in professional rodeo. Married in the fall of 1989, the many weeks and months in travel away from his wife and daughter were taking a toll. Ken had become “road-sour”. After twenty-six successful years in the business he simply walked away from it all in the fall of 2001. Yet, even after he left the rodeo world he was recognized for his talent and rodeo business experience by twice being asked to return to Las Vegas to give keynote marketing seminars at the annual PRCA Rodeo Convention.
      Ever the adventurer, entrepreneur and self starter, Ken desired a completely different but independent path after rodeo. Quickly, but dramatically, he “traded horses” and was (somehow) immediately hired by Edward Jones Investments-one of America’s top brokerage firms. With no formal training in finance Knopp went at this opportunity with a focused determination. Just thirty-one months after being licensed as a Financial Advisor Ken was at the highest segment level of production for the firm. Recognizing his abilities the firm gave Ken additional opportunities and offered him several leadership positions. For many years, Ken was one of Edward Jones’ top producers and also involved in leadership and training activities. When asked about his varied lifestyle and careers Ken says, “I have never been very athletic, smart or blessed with talent but GOD has thankfully, given me a strong work ethic and then the ability to adapt, absorb, transform and, even occasionally, to excel where passion and opportunity have met.”
      Today, Ken is retired from the financial world, spending his time traveling with his family and mostly just staying close to “home”. He continues his love for history with numerous and continuous publishing projects and speaking engagements around the country. He loves to write, has projects in progress and contributes to several historical magazines and publishes articles nearly every year. In addition, a passionate speaker in patriotic and historical themes, Ken routinely speaks before historical associations and civic groups. At Edward Jones (2002 – retired May 2025) he loved to devote his time to his clients, training/motivating young financial advisors and volunteering at local historic sites and community efforts. As “just an old cowboy turned businessman” Ken gives all the Glory to his LORD Jesus Christ and knows he is, “truly blessed beyond understanding”. He enjoys being at home on his small acreage outside Hattiesburg, Mississippi with his “forever” gorgeous wife Heather, daughter Alexandra and her husband Dr. Charlie Adams.

BOOKS:

  • AMERICAN RIDING & WORK SADDLES (And Horse Culture) 1790 – 1920 (2018, Available now!)
  • CONFEDERATE SADDLES & HORSE EQUIPMENT (2001)
  • MADE IN THE C.S.A., SADDLE MAKERS OF THE CONFEDERACY (2003)

ARTICLES:

Over four dozen original articles published by the following magazines:

  • Military Collector & Historian, Journal of the Company of Military Historians (Numerous articles). Winner of the William K. Emerson Award for best article of 2016!!
  • North South Trader’s Civil War (numerous articles)
  • The Cavalry Journal, Journal of the United States Cavalry Association. 
  • Smoke & Fire News
  • Civil War Historian
  • Civil War News
  • Civil War Courier
  • Camp Chase Gazette
  • Rodeo Sports News
  • Rodeo News
  • Hoof & Horn Magazine
  • National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Magazine
  • And dozens of local and regional newspapers, magazines and periodicals.

FILM WORK:

Small acting roles, stunt work, production staff, skilled background extra or historical consultant in the following movies:

  • NORTH & SOUTH, 1985-1986 ABC Mini Series: Skilled background extra. Film stared a host of well known actors and celebrities.
  • THE ALAMO, THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, 1987, Republic Pictures and State of Texas Production. Uncredited stunt work and Texas/ Mexican background extra. IMAX film won the 1988 Cowboy Hall of Fame- Wrangler Award for Authenticity and Stunts. IMAX film starring lessor known names and political appointees but as a historical representation and quality production its the best. Shown at the Alamo Theater in San Antonio.
  • SON OF THE MORNING STAR, 1990 ABC Mini-Series. Skilled extra, uncredited stunt work including…. lots of hard riding and fight scenes as one of Custer’s famous 7th Cavalry at the Little Big Horn. Movie based on Evan S Connell’s Best Selling book of the same name. Starring Gary Cole, Rosanna Arquette, Rodney Grant, David Strathairn and Dean Stockwell.
  • GLORY, 1989 Multiple Academy Award Winning movie by Freddie Fields. Uncredited Stunts and skilled background extra. Movie about Robert Gould Shaw and his 54th Massachusetts Regiment of black troops during the Civil War. Starring Mathew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.
  • SHILOH NATIONAL PARK DOCUMENTARY: Historical Consultant, Wrangler and acting role as Federal Col. “Pappy” Cockerill. Filmed for the NPS at actual sites on the park in 2011, it tells the story of the battle. Premiered on the 150th anniversary of the battle in 2012 it replaced the park’s 50 year old Visitor Center Film.
  • Historical consulting on several small budget films and TV productions.
  • Various television commercials and other film projects.

STAGE WORK:

  • Wrote, directed, acted and did stunts in several LIVE stage productions at nationwide indoor professional rodeos (PRCA & PBR) from 1983-2001 including the Openings for the 1990 National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas, NV. 

MEDIA WORK:

  • Hundreds of media interview appearances over twenty years in the rodeo business on local television, radio and news programs in major and minor media markets in fifteen states.

Business Credentials:

  • Edward Jones Financial Advisor (23 years- Retired May 2025) 
  • Edward Jones (Many years on Leadership Team mentoring, motivating, leading young Advisors)
  • Former Marketing Dir. for Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co., Nation’s largest Pro Rodeo producer (1983-2001).
  • Former News Writer for Michigan Agriculture and News Radio Network.

 

“In my travels, I’ve worked with dozens of celebrities: well known actors, athletes, country music singers, famous rodeo personalities, financial industry leaders and other ‘stars’. Many (not all), I have found, are actually self serving and insecure- not worth a damn! In my opinion, the real ‘stars’ on this earth are those who “serve” others, “mentor” and “lead” righteously, humbly, quietly-without expectations of glory, position or profit. For me personally, my “heroes” include my wife, family (especially my father), a few close friends, several notable historical figures, a few rodeo personalities and humble/dedicated Financial Advisors, our dogs, many old horses and a few others that have influenced my journey making it all rewarding, eventful, interesting and a helluva lot of fun!”

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