Leonard Hampton, born and raised in Dodge City, is the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame's Rodeo Inductee.
As a young man, he did trick roping and worked the chutes at rodeos in order to earn money for his entrance fees to compete in other rodeo events, such as calf roping and steer wrestling. As a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1962, he pursued a career in professional calf roping. However, Leonard endured a painful knee injury in the early 1970s, which kept him from competing in the National Finals Rodeo. Thus, with professional competition on hold, Leonard looked to make a new career for himself by training horses, a side job he had started earlier in rodeo profession. At the time, Leonard and his wife, Mary, pursued the idea of an indoor arena, which would allow Leonard to work and train horses all year around. As a result the two built Hampton Arena in 1972, which would later host the first jackpot arena team roping competitions in Dodge City. Years later, the arena still hosts team roping events and weekly practices.
Leonard, along with his wife, continues to stay active in teaching and coaching roping to all ages, and participate in the Annual Methodist Youthville Boy's Ranch Cattle Drive. Team roping, calf roping, team penning, and barrel racing have been a part of the continued history of Dodge City's "Cowboy Capital of the World" thanks to Leonard and Mary Hampton.
