Men’s Contestant Nominees
ABOUT MICHAEL JONES
Michael Jones, a five-time NFR qualifier, didn’t grow up in rodeo, but his family studied the game and entered the industry hoping to bring a new spin to the practice pen. In 1989, 10 years before Michael would join the ranks of the PRCA, his dad David, mother Linda and he developed the first science-based, bio-mechanical team roping training system.
Michael used this system making headlines in 2001 winning the Pace Picante ProRodeo Chute-out in Las Vegas, qualifying him for the Olympic Command Performance Rodeo the following year in Farmington, Utah, during the Winter Olympic Games. He would go on to win the NFR average title in 2004 and became the first to rope a steer in 3.7 seconds in the Thomas and Mack.
His style helped revolutionize how heelers approached the game, changing the mindset of a heeler from a defensive type of roper to an offensive roper. This approach can now be seen in heelers competing today.
ABOUT TONY REINA
RODEO ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1993-NIRA southern region calf roping champion and qualified for the CNFR. Joined PRCA this year.
1996 won 2nd in the Texas circuit in calf roping
1999- won 2nd at the San Antonio rodeo in calf roping
1st qualification for the NFR calf roping winning 1round at the NFR and ended 14th in the world
2009- won 2nd in round at Cheyenne in steer roping
2012- won the Texas circuit rodeo and rd3 for the year in steer roping the circuit standings. Won 2nd at Odesa, Pecos and Stephenville that year.
2013- qualified for his first nfsr and won the average title that year, placing 3 rounds and ending 9th in world standings
2014-placed in 2 rounds at the NFSR and won 5th In avg
2017- finished 14th in world standings and qualified for NFSR 2018-finished 14th ni world standings and qualified for NFSR
2019-finished 8th in world standings and qualified for NFSR
Tony has placed in nearly all major rodeos in the US.
Tony is a mentor and great horseman and a true meaning of the word, “cowboy”. True to his word and deserves his place in the hall of fame as he continues to give back to rodeo as a mentor to many Cowboys and cowgirls.
Tony has served as the youth rodeo association president from 2013-2020. He is currently serving as the chairman of the board for the PRCA Texas circuit.
Tony currently lives in Wharton, Texas with his wife, Kelly. They have two daughters and one grandson. Tony owns and operates a maintenance business serving the oil and gas industry.
ABOUT HOWDY CLOUD
Howdy Cloud, born in 1979 in Beaumont, Texas. At five years old, his rodeo career began with calf riding in the Lone Star Rodeo Association and local rodeos.
• THSRA Region V 1995 All-Around Cowboy Rookie of the Year competing in Bareback, Bull Riding, and Team Roping.
• IFYR 1997 Shawnee, Oklahoma, second, 1st Round in Bareback
• THSRA Region V 1998 All-Around Cowboy
• NHSRA, 1998, advanced to the national finals, second place in Bareback at Gillette, Wyoming. PRCA Rodeo Accomplishment:
• Qualifier for the NFR 2005,2007,2009 in Bull Riding
• Won NFR 6th Round 2005
• Won NFR 3rd Round 2009
• Qualifier for the CBRWC 2005,2006
Won Bull Riding at Major Rodeos:
• Denver, Omaha, Salinas, Pendleton, Rapid City, Idaho and El Paso.
After retiring, Howdy enjoys assisting, watching his nephew in the arena, and meeting new people as a licensed realtor.
ABOUT JIM BOB MAYES
I was born and raised in Manor, Texas. Coming from a rodeo family I started riding at a very early age, I started roping at nine. My Dad (Bobby Mayes) roped and daily spent time turning out calves, tying with me for hours and managing to keep a horse or two tuned up for me. While I participated in youth rodeos, high school rodeos and college rodeos, I won my fair share but my career was not particularly impressive. I was never a year end winner in any association.
In 1991 I purchased my PRCA card and won enough to make the Texas Circuit Finals and won the Texas Circuit Tie Down Rookie of the Year. In 1992 with only a semester left to finish college, I broke the news to my parents I was going to rodeo full time, which meant quitting school. Their response was “Are You Crazy?” But… they finally agreed, with a promise I’d return to school and graduate. In 1992 I was on the road with Jim Fuller. That year I placed along the way but nothing to brag about.
When 1993 rolled around I was traveling with Lanham Mangold. I began to settle in and finally found my groove. Looking back it turns out that I won or placed high in nearly every major PRCA rodeo over the years. I made my first NFR in 1993 and again in 1995. I consider myself very blessed to have had the opportunity to pursue my dreams.
ABOUT BRADLEY HARTER
Career earnings were $1,491,063.
Wrangler NFR Qualifications: 11 (2005-06, 2008-15, 2019)
Bradley Harter, the 11-time NFR qualifier-saddle bronc rider, nicknamed the ‘smiling cowboy’ had an amazing rodeo career. Bradly was born and raised in Weatherford, Texas and to some was the pride of Parker County when he decided to go to Tarleton State University. Bradley qualified for the College National Finals all four years he was there while earning a Marketing/Business degree. He was inducted into their Tarleton Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2018.
In 2019, Bradley returned to the NFR after a 4-year absence due to an injury. He started 2019 in 12th place and it is said it may take him a little longer to get ready to ride since Vegas in 2005, but his heart and desire have remained the same through his entire journey and in life.
Bradley, his wife, Kirby and two sons, Houston and Branson now reside in Louisiana.
ABOUT TEE WOOLMAN
He was a team roper, steer roper and calf roper in a career that spanned from 1980 to 2007 and garnered him more than $2,000,000 in earnings. A three-time PRCA Team Roping World Champion — in 1980, his rookie year, and again in 1982 and 1991 — Woolman won the National Finals Team Roping Average five times. He showed team roping horses for Carol Rose for over 15 years with multiple AQHA world titles. In 2004 his head horse, Megazord, took honors as the PRCA/AQHA Horse of the Year. Some of his team roping partners were: Leo Camarillo, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Bobby Harris, Monty Joe Petska, Rich Skelton, Patrick Smith and Cory Petska. Woolman qualified for the Steer Roping National Finals 19 times: from 1985 to 2001, and in 2004 and 2005. He won the Steer Roping Average in 1998; was the PRCA Texas Circuit All Around Champion in 1996; and was a six-time Texas Circuit Champion Team Roper. Some of his other major wins include Cheyenne Frontier Days; California Rodeo at Salinas; San Antonio; Pikes Peak or Bust; Dodge City RoundUp; Salt Lake Days of ’47; and the Sandhills Rodeo at Odessa. Woolman resides at Llano, Texas.
He was inducted into the ProRodeo HOF, Colorado Springs, CO in 2021 and National Rodeo Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City, OK 2022
ABOUT RICH SKELTON
Rich Skelton bought his PRCA card in 1986. He made his first National Finals Rodeo appearance in 1990 heeling for Tee Woolman. When Woolman decided to slow down in late 1997, Skelton joined with header Speed Williams. The duo went on to break or tie all team roping records in their nine-year partnership.
Skelton also competed as a calf and steer roper, finishing fourth in the All-Around race in 2000. He continued to place in the top 15 for the next seven years. Skelton has 22 NFR qualifications on his résumé (1990-2006, 2009-10, 2013-15) and a 2007 National Finals Steer Roping qualification.
Inducted PRHOF Colorado Springs, CO 2018
Accolades
World Championships: 8
Team Roping: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
National Finals Rodeo Average Champion
Team Roping: 2001
RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion
Team Roping: 1997, 2001, 2003
RAM Circuit Year-End Champion
Team Roping: 1987, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2009
ABOUT BRYAN RICHARDSON
Bryan Richardson was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. His dad competed in the LSHSRA, CRA and the PRCA. Bryan was introduced to the Mesquite Rodeo at a young age through close family ties to Mcllvain family. While working the petting zoo for Frank Sr and even running the mechanical bull for Glenn at Donny Gay’s bull riding schools, the itch to compete himself began. He started riding Jr Bulls at the age of 13 at the Historic Kow Bell area in Mansfield, TX, as well as the Bull Palace in Desoto, TX. It was then that his dream became to one day qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV. Throughout his career he reached that goal and much more, breaking records at some of the most historical events in the sport.
Early Rodeo Career:
Rodeo Events:
Rodeo Associations:
Rodeo Titles:
ABOUT ISAAC DIAZ
Career earnings: $1,585,293
2023 world standings place: 16th
Wrangler NFR qualifications: 7 (2007, 2009, 2012-13, 2015, 2018, 2020)
Tour Finale titles: 1 (2009)
Education: Vernon (Texas) College and Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas)
Career Highlights
• 2022: Finished 31st in the world standings with $55,246.
• 2021: Finished 19th in the world standings with $60,329.
His nickname is Ike … Homeschooled from elementary school level through high school … Roomed with 2008 World Champion Bareback Rider Justin McDaniel at Vernon College.
ABOUT WILL LOWE
Career earnings: $2,845,092
15-time WNFR Qualifier
3-time World champion: 3 (2003, 2005-2006)
2-time WNFR champion: 2 (2006-07)
Awards
PRCA Resistol Overall and Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year, 2002
Education: Vernon (Texas) College, associate in science degree
Will Lowe was born and raised in Canyon, Texas. Attended Vernon College and was on the Men’s National Champion College Rodeo team in 2003.
In 2002, Will won the Bareback Riding Rookie title and qualified for his first NFR. Will also won the prestigious Cheyenne Frontier Days championship for the 3rd time in July 2018. He started riding bareback at age 7. He grew up in town but after attending a rodeo for the first time, his mind was set. His perspective on the competition was “its not a competition against the other guys, its how well you and that animal can perform and show everyone how awesome our sport is.”
Will appeared in Sports Illustrated’s, Faces in the Crowd in the Oct. 20, 2003, issue for tying the bareback riding world record of 94 points at the Summer Tour Finale in Omaha, Nebraska. He traveled with Wes Stevenson, Royce Ford and Tom McFarland; they call their group the “Wolf Pack”. … Rodeo idols are Bruce Ford, Clint Corey and Mark Garrett.
Will’s wife is Tiffani and their two sons are Garrett and Levi.