Clifton Smith was born and has lived his 84 years of life raising cattle on his family ranch in Tell, Texas. After amateuring for a few years, he joined the RCA in 1957. Never competing in more than 39 rodeos in a year, he qualified for his 1st NFR in calf roping in 1960. He was the 1st calf roper to get off the right side of the horse at the NFR. He qualified for the NFR in calf roping again in 1962. After that he concentrated on building his ranch and raising his 5 children with his wife, Judy. In 1992 he cracked back out and won the World Championship Calf Roping in the Living Legends Association. Some of his favorite rodeos he won were Camdenton, MO., Colorado Springs, CO., Spanish Fork, UT., Sprindale Ar. and Santa Rosa Roundup, Vernon, TX. One of his favorite memories was tying the fastest calf in Fort Worth at the time of 11.1. His legacy continues through his children and grandchildren.
