Dudley Barker Jr. was raised in the small Central Texas town of Thrall. There he graduated from high school and then continued his education at Texas A&M University. As a graduate with a degree in Science Barker elected to serve his country and volunteered by joining the United States marine Corp.
In his time in the “Corp”, he served in Vietnan, Okinawa and California. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in the USMC.
Furthering his education even more, Barker returned to A&M where he received a master’s degree and three Texas State Teacher’s certificates.
After working as a ranch manager, Dudley moved to Stephenville, Texas where he was exposed to the rodeo cowboy’s lifestyle in the “Rodeo Capital of the World”. With the camera he carried in Vietnam, he started on a journey following the rodeo circuit and capturing some of the most memorable rodeo “flicks” ever taken.
His dedication of rodeo photography has him to 35 National Finals Rodeos, four YRA Finals, 35 AJRA Finals, 20 Texas Circuit PRCA Finals, 2 NIRA Finals, 10 Texas High School Rodeo Finals, the Senior NFR, 2 times PRCA Steer Roping Finals and 5 TYRA Finals.
