Rodeo lost a good friend last Wednesday. Jim Shoulders, an icon in the industry, passed away from heart and kidney complications. Shoulders began his rodeo career at the age of 14. He won his first World Championship at the age of 21 in 1949 and went on to win a total of 16 World Championships with the PRCA from 1949 through 1959. He earned the title of World Champion All-Around Cowboy five times, World Champion Bareback Rider four times and World Champion Bull Rider seven times. Additionally, he was Reserve World Champion 10 times, including four second-place finishes in the All-Around race.
Acknowledged to be the “Babe Ruth of Rodeo", Shoulders was considered by many to be the best rodeo cowboy ever. He was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979 and was honored by the Pro Bull Riders Association in 1996 when he received the PBR Ring of Honor. Shoulders was the only cowboy to ever be inducted into Madison Square Garden’s Hall of Fame.
He may have been the first to garner multiple titles, but in my book, he was a World Champion Man! At the risk of showing my age, I met Jim Shoulders at Cashman’s Field during the NFR World Finals years ago. Barb Pinnella and I were sitting in a van, waiting to go back to our hotel. Jim was in the front seat. Suddenly all these kids started running over and asking for autographs. I thought they wanted mine, until Jim started signing! Now, I’m not THAT old! Jim’s reign was before my time and despite the fact that his picture was on the back cover of the program sitting on the seat, and of course, I knew his name, I had NO idea who it was sitting in the front seat.
Finally, being the shy, delicate flower that I am, (with Barb elbowing me in the ribs and frantically pointing at the picture on the program) I asked him “Ok, I give up! Who are you? Are you somebody?” As Barb turned into a puddle on the floor, Jim turned around and began to laugh. He introduced himself and of course, I was mortified. We chatted all the way back to the hotel and from that point forward, he would always come up and give me a hug and ask me “Are you somebody?” I thought he had a marvelous sense of humor and with his warm, kind manner, you couldn’t help but fall in love with him. I shall remember him with a smile and a great deal of fondness.
Shoulders was still riding up until a few months ago. According to his son, he died in his sleep and did not have to suffer. Jim Shoulders is survived by his wife, Sharon, son Marvin and three grand daughters.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to them and to all who loved him.
Until next time..
Linda Peterson
