Nicknamed “Razor,” Jim Sharp was introduced to rodeo at an early age, climbing aboard his first calf at the age of five, launching a career and legend. He entered his first rodeo in Pecos, Texas, in 1974, winning four bull riding championships in the American Junior Rodeo Association and adding the Texas High School Rodeo Association all-around championship to his accomplishments in 1984. From junior and high school circuits, Sharp advanced to Odessa College, winning the 1986 and 1987 bull riding titles in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
In 1986, alongside starting his professional rodeo career and qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in his first season, Sharp was Rookie of the Year in bull riding and all-around, setting a rookie season earnings record of $96,925 and finishing fourth in bull riding standings. Despite injuries in 1987, he qualified for the NFR, finishing fifth in world standings. 1988 was Sharp’s breakout year, becoming the first to ride all ten bulls at the NFR, winning the average and his first world championship.
Sharp continued to excel in 1989, winning the NFR bull riding average and finishing as runner-up for the world title. He earned his second world championship in 1990. In 1992, Sharp won the NFR bull riding average again, tying with Denny Flynn for most NFR average wins in bull riding. However, injuries in 1993 and ’94 hindered his NFR returns. In 1995, he made a comeback, placing second in bull riding at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, but was sidelined by injuries again.
A founding member of the Professional Bull Riders, Sharp helped elevate bull riding in media exposure, prize money, and fan base, with his best year in PBR competition being 2002, earning $281,315. Despite injuries in later stages, Sharp’s riding prowess was undeniable. In 2006, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs.
