All Inductees

Glen Bird

Men Contestant

Glen was born on November 10, 1945 in the small west Texas town of Matador to Gartha and G.T. Bird. He has one brother, Arnold, (now deceased). At and early age the family moved to the Weatherford Texas area where he still resides.

As a youngster you cold often find Glen with his grandpa, Glen David Bird, on the ranch riding anything that moved. He always looked forward to branding time when the calves would run out of the doctoring chute and he could be aboard.

While at Peaster High School Peaster, Texas Glen was fortunate to have an Agriculture teacher, William T. Woody, who chose to mentor him and haul him to youth rodeos across the state. Competition at the college level was not in his sites; the open rodeos were. The adventures of catching rides to the next rodeo are most memorable. Working the labor lists to pay the entry fees was also prevalent. Getting on any bull ore horse that needed to be mounted was his goal.

Growing up he was influenced by the competitive skills portrayed by Johnny Clark, Harry Tompkins, Bernis Johnson and Jim Shoulders.

His first professional bull riding competition came with the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) in 1964. He qualified for their finals that same year and won the most money to be given the title of World Champion Bull Rider. World Champion titles in that event came his way in 1967, 1968 and 1970 as well. During 1968 and 1970 he also concentrated enough in the bareback event to win sufficient money to be crowned the All-Around Champion.

The 1971, 1972, and 1973 IPRA Finals also saw Glen in competition. During his career, he was also in the top 5 several years in the All-Around standings. Injuries led to his retirement in 1972.

Glen recently retired from over 20 years with Miller Brewing Company and finds himself dabbling with cattle and often at the nearest lake with his fishing buddies. He and wife Judy have been married over 40 years and have a daughter Jennifer White of Weatherford and son, Jason Bird of Phoenix, Arizona.