When rodeo fans discuss all-around champions, names such as Jim Shoulders, Larry Mahan, and Ty Murray are sure to be mentioned. But in the decade of the ’90s, there was no more dominant force in women’s rodeo than J.J. Hampton. She was born into a rodeo family and raised in Stephenville. Like most rodeo contestants, she got her start in junior rodeo and won a world goat tying championship in the American Junior Rodeo Association. She attended college at Tarleton State University where she continued to hone her skills and started building a reputation as one of the top women ropers in rodeo.
Hampton burst onto the scene in professional rodeo in 1994 when she captured the all-around and calf roping championships in the Professional Women’s Rodeo Association. Hampton started a run that would bring her 16 world championships and make her one of the biggest names in the world of women’s rodeo. She excelled in all of the roping events, but calf roping was her specialty. In addition to the world title in 1994, she also won tie-down championships in 1996, ’97, ’98, and ’99. In 1997 and 2000, Hampton also won the calf roping average at the Women’s National Finals Rodeo.
In the breakaway roping, Hampton won world titles in 1995 and ’96. She also won the breakaway roping average at the Women’s National Finals Rodeo in 1998. In the team roping, Hampton was one of the top headers in the business and continued her winning and even dominating ways in that event as well. She won world heading championships in 1997, ’98, and ’99.
Hampton faced her share of adversity during her career, such as the summer of 1998 when her breakaway horse, Fancy, died. Officially named Sara Rey Lynx, Fancy was named Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year in 1996 and ’98. Her brother-in-law, Marty Yates, also a roper, was tragically killed in a traffic accident. In addition to her success on the national level and in the Professional Women’s Rodeo Association, Hampton has also won several championships on the regional level. She won three season titles in the breakaway roping in the United Professional Rodeo Association and three season championships in the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association.
Rodeo has always been a family affair with Hampton, as her dad, Johnny, was a professional roper and her brother, Row, is an outstanding team roper. For much of her career, Hampton rodeoed with and against her sister, Angie, who was a top cowgirl in her own right. J.J. finds time to coach and assist her nephew, Marty, who has won championships in the American Junior Rodeo Association and has a bright future.
Hampton credits her mother, Barbara, for getting the family to rodeos, helping with practice sessions, and always having a positive attitude. Her grandfather, PaPa Johnnie Hampton, was her biggest fan, always telling her to “burn it on em, J.” She also credits her grandmother, Meme Helen Hampton, for being supportive of her. In addition to being recognized by the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Hampton has been inducted into the Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame in Stephenville and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.
