Diltzie Bland Edmondson was the second of five children born to R.L. and Rosemary Bland on April 5, 1951 in Abilene, Texas.
Diltize and her siblings began going to junior rodeos at an early age. They joined the American Junior Rodeo Association (AJRA) early on, winning championships in different events. They all competed in every event, so getting all of the horses, tack and the family to a rodeo was a pretty good chore. They used a 56 foot cattle trailer and a truck until 1960, when dad got one of the first two seated Dodge pickups and a four horse in-line trailer. There was lots of sharing to get the right equipment for each kid.
Barrel racing and roping were the main events for Diltzie, but she began hazing in the steer wrestling for brother Rex and others, even her future husband.
Diltzie was in the top 5 in the Texas Circuit for five years, 16th in the world one year, just missing the National Finals in barrel racing. She won the barrels at Pecos six years and the OS Ranch and Jim Bob Altizer events 3 years.
In 1968, Diltzie married calf roper, Johnny Edmondson, after meeting and competing at junior rodeos. Johnny had won AJRA and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Calf Roping Championships. Diltzie attended Tarleton State College and Hardin-Simmons University, where she competed in the college rodeos. Johnny and Diltzie rodeoed all over the country in the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) and WPRA (Women’s Professional Rodeo Association).
Diltzie and Johnny live in Fisher County where they run a yearling and hay operation and help in the family operation at Cal-Tex Feed yard at Trent, Texas. They have two children, Carter. an outstanding roper, and Lorissa, a tough rodeo contestant. They also have six grandchildren, which are future rodeo contestants.
