Dixie Reger Mosley was born on the JP Ranch west of Buffalo, OK in 1930 to a rodeo performing family. By the time she was five years old Dixie was working Colonel Jim Eskew’s rodeo alongside her dad and trained steer, “Bobcat Twister ”and two older siblings who trick rode and trick roped. Junior Eskew, world champion trick roper, taught Dixie the basics of trick riding and trick roping.At 5 ½ she did vaults and cruppers on a 36” Shetland pony. As ateenager jumped a Palomino horse over a car. The family worked rodeos, fairs and Colonel Jim’s Wild West shows on the East coast for five years. Returning to Oklahoma Dixie first clowned at rodeo at age 11, with her trained mule,“Rabbit”.Dixie became a charter member (and V.P.) of the Girl’s Rodeo Association, formed in 1948. She competed in all timed events, her favorite being calf roping, riding bulls in exhibition, trick riding and trick roping. Dixie clowned all GRArodeos from 1948–1953. She also clown on occasion at RCA rodeos and holds RCA #1007. She retired from rodeo when she married W. C.‘Bill’Mosley, a cattleman. They had three children and live in Amarillo. Dixie is the only woman rodeo clown qualified to attend the Rodeo Clown Reunions.
Awards & Honors
1982National Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum Inductee
2003Rodeo Historical Society National Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductee
2004American Cowboy Culture Pioneer Woman Award, Cowboy Symposium, Lubbock
2014Speaker at Cowtown Oncology Nursing Symposium as a two-time breast cancer survivor
2019All Cowboy & Arena Champions Inductee, Kerrville, TX
2024Accepted for Thena Mae Farr & Nancy Binford (deceased) inductedintothe Rodeo Historical SocietyRodeo Hall ofFame
