John M. Wilson was born in Belton, TX May 31, 1948. He moved to Salado in 1962 where he went to school with Chick and Monte Elms. At age 15, Chick talked him into riding bareback horses. John won his first high school rodeo in Clifton, TX at the age of 16. He then started going to amateur rodeos all over Texas at the age of 17.
In 1966 at Davilla, TX, he won his first check for $36 dollars and in 1967 he won his first championship buckle at San Saba, TX. Thereafter he was a repeat champion at places like Ranger 1971-1973 and Stanford 1977-1978. John won many more rodeos including Gatesville, Lockhart, Yorktown, Austin, Goliad, San Antonio, Kenedy, Angleton, League City, Springerville Arizona, Pleasenton, Johnson City, Stonewall, Olney, Ladonia, Pittsburg, Paris, Idabell Oklahoma, Granbury, and many more.
John had an R.C.A. card from 1972 to 1973 and won many rodeos such as Rocksprings, Mesquite, Madisonville, and placed in even more. From 1977 through 1986 he averaged going to about 7 rodeos a year. He was lucky enough to have won at least one buckle a year from 1947 to 1989.
John joined Central Rodeo Association in 1980, making the finals for 6 years. He also joined the Cowboy Region Rodeo Association in 1982 and made the finals in 1984. He was also a member of the Texas Rodeo Association in 1983, making the finals 3 straight years in a row. He was Runner Up for the Championship in 1985. John was also one of the original members of the Pro Team Rodeo riding for the Dallas Desperadoes. In 1982 he led the team in the scoring average per contestant with an average score of 72.5. Some of his teammates were future P.R.C.A. Champions such as Clint Corey, several time I.R.A. World Champion Bobby Cooper, and great all-around hand Lonnie Austin, father of the future P.R.C.A. Champion bull rider Matt Austin.
John considered one of his best rodeos in Amarillo where he won both go-rounds for the Championship. During this time period, he was able to ride the great horse AL, owned by Jerald Smith of Wing Rodeo, for the first time at the C.R.A. finals for 79 points and XY11 Cotton Eyed Joe for 82 points and won 2nd place in Pasadena at the largest Amateur Rodeo in Texas, riding the great horse General Grant owned by Larry Wyche for 79 points.
John’s love for rodeo was kept alive thanks to O.T.R.C.A. from 1987 to 1989. He won 2 Championships and was Runner Up in another. He also won the average at the finals all 3 years.
John knew when and where every rodeo in Texas was and missed entering very few. If a chute gate was opened, he was there. Looking back at a career that spanned 25 years and having won championships in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Arizona, things could not have been much better.
