Olie Smith was born into rodeo. Parents Blanche Altizer and Bud Smith were somewhat dismayed when at first Olie didn’t take an interest in riding. That didn’t last long. By the age of 12, Olie was roping and riding with cousins Mack and Sherry Altizer. Olie didn’t junior rodeo much because of playing football but he and Mack were the 1976 Texas High School Team Roping Champions and Olie was also the AJRA Optional Roping Champion that same year. He attended college on a rodeo scholarship where he was a member of the World Champion Southeastern Oklahoma State Rodeo Team from 1978 – 1980. Along with partner Tee Woolman, Olie was the 1978 NIRA Team Roping Champion. After college, Olie began rodeoing in earnest, specializing in Steer Wrestling and Calf Roping. Olie won or placed at the majority of rodeos. A few of the rodeos that he won were: San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, Reno, NV Rodeo, Ft. Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo, and the All Around plus the $50,000 in the Steer Wrestling at the Calgary Stampede. Olie qualified for the 1985 NFR in the Steer Wrestling and in 1995, Olie won the prestigious Timed Event Championship.
