Bowie F Wesley was born to Woodrow & Pauline Wesley and was raised in the Wayside community east of Happy, TX. His brother C.R. still farms and ranches part of the original family homestead.
Bowie started entering rodeos while in high school in the Bareback Bronc and Bull Riding competition. He graduated from Happy High School in 1960 and started competing more in roping events and steer wrestling while attending West Texas State College in Canyon, TX and South Plains College at Levelland, TX. In 1963-1964 he won the NIRA All-Around Honors. He married Cheryl Allred of Wildorado, TX in 1966.
Bowie joined the RCA in 1967 and competed in his first prorodeo in January 1968 in Odessa, TX. He finished his first year in the RCA in 6th place in the Steer Roping and 18th in Calf Roping. With his winnings in Team Roping and Steer Wrestling his total winnings were $12,460. Because of his roping ability, the RCA Board of Directors named Bowie “Rookie of the Year” for 1968. Bowie was dedicated to whatever he did. He was the first straight timed event contestant to win the award since Harry Charters Jr. in 1959.
Bowie Wesley was killed July 30, 1970 in a highway accident near Hardin MT while competing in RCA rodeos in that area. Bowie was in the top twenty calf ropers and steer ropers at the time of his death. He attributed his success in the rodeo arena to his dad Woodrow, Edd Workman, Tuffy Thompson, Paul Howard, and many others. Bowie’s granddad Ben Wesley competed in roping events also. He died in a highway accident west of Tucumcari, NM on his way to rodeos in the early 1950s. Ironically, Bowie was enroute to the “Last Chance Stampede” rodeo in Helena, MT at the time of his death.