Arnie from Strasburg, CO
I met Jim at a parade/over night camp out with horses, in Limon, CO. I admired his achivements before I met him, but was more impressed by his "down to earth" demeanor, after meeting him. Mr. Shoulders left a memory that a famous person, can still a kind and caring man. Thank you, Jim.
Shawna from Carlsbad, NM
From what I have heard from Jim's son BOB SHOULDERS, who is a Very Good Friend of ours, Jim was the Best Cowboy Ever! It has been an honor to know Bob & his wife Sheri & I am proud to call them my friends! Although Jim's championship career has come full circle now, I have come to know of him through Bob & Sheri Shoulders. They are two of the Greatest People I have Ever Met! As the old saying goes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.. in this case I know it to be true! God Bless!
CLAYTON from CHANUTE, KS
I AM NIT A RODEO COWBOY MYSELF,BUT I GREW UP AROUND IT. ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES I REMEBER AS A LITTLE KID WAS JIM SHOULDERS. I KNOW THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE WILL AGREE WHEN I SAY THAT HE WILL BE MISSED AND THE WORLD IS A SMALLER PLACE WITHOUT HIM.
jim from Wheat Ridge, CO
I was delighted to have met mr. Shoulders at the prorodeo hall several times. He was not only a great cowboy but a kind and gracious person. He may be the best all around yet and hard to surpass in the future. He enhanced all our lives. God bless and thank you.
Tom from Las Vegas, NV
The first time I ever seen Jim was when I was 18 years old, it was my very first NFR that my dad took me too. I new who he was the first time I seen him. He signed a picture for me, and also took a picture with me, it was great. Now im 28 years old now. He was the bestnext to Casey Tibbs and Lane Frost. He wll be missed.
Lee from Kansas City, MO
I was born and reared in Oklahoma, from the time I can remember Jim Shoulders was the Man in rodeo. I remember going to the prison rodeos Mr. Shoulders started. He was always there to say "Hi" and have his picture taken with a little guy or gal. I had the honor of meeting him one on one in Miami Oklahoma when he put on a rodeo my brother was involved in. If he said the sun was not coming up in the morning, you had better get your flashlight out. He was right up there with Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger and Hoppy, but he was real and stayed that way his whole life. He earned his rest and I was blessed to have the opportunity to shake his hand.
Anne from Georgetown, KY
You "Cowboy Up'd one last time, but the impressions you left on the life of others will stand through time.
John from San Antonio, TX
He was a man that was a good role model for me. God bless ya Jim.
Richard Beemer from Carson City , NV
I was about 7 or 8 maybe younger I really can't remember and My dad had been rodeoing hard and had been gone a while and was due in the next day. I could not wait to see dad as I had a new pony and a new rope and had been practicing to show dad how I could rope a hay bale. When dad would come in late from the road he would drink some coffee and stretch out on the couch rather than wake mom up which would make mom a little upset as she missed dad as much as we did. I got up the next morning saw dad laying on the couch bounded into the living room jumped full force on dad and to my surprise it was not dad but Mr. Jim. He just smiled picked me up and started laughing. I was in shock! but he kept me from crying. When my rodeo bull riding career started Mr. Jim was always encouraging in his own way straight up! My dad died three weeks before Mr. Jim. Heaven for sure has two great rodeo cowboys still riding and roping and lord only knows what else.
Lisa from London, ON
THanks for the moments and the memories. You will never be forgotten.
Hugh from Hesperia, MI
When I was a boy growing up Jim WAS rodeo to me. A REAL cowboy with movie cowboy looks. When school was starting up I always got a couple of new pairs of Wranglers and getting those Jim Shoulders "comic books" was an important part of the deal.
Nena from Selkirk, MB
Sadly missed but never forgotten
Derinda from Louisville, KY
He will be greatly missed!!
Walt from Tacoma, WA
Jim was A real kind guy I know Jim for year and there was nobody like himwhen I stated riding Jim would say just hold your head up high and don't let any body know how you feel about what you are riding Walt Morehouse
Jeremy from Sicamous, BC
Jim was a hero in the sport of rodeo to all of us.He will be sadly missed. Jeremy Salamandyk
RUSTY from AMARILLO, TX
GOOD RIDE COWBOY, GOOD RIDE. GOD BLESS JIM SHOULDERS.....
mark dennis from Valley Center, KS
. jim has inspired millions i was one of them my dad started calling me mark shoulders in 1964 . he was a living legend . i'd like to see a movie made about his life i knew people that knew him traveled with him long ago and attended his schools they all became champions .
Trisha from Las Vegas, NV
What a fine example of character Jim was. He will surely be a legend in rodeo and beyond for decades.
Tena from Swanton, OH
"Cowboy Up", he heard 'em call as he settled in for his ride
"O.K. Boys!", he hollered back and with all other thoughts aside
He came out of that chute like a bat out of hell, he would make history today
He knows he can go the eight seconds, but when he's done, can he walk away
That chute is sacred ground to most where only few have dared to tread
He knows pride goes before the fall so he would count on his wits instead
For him, it is not the fame and fortune that holds his spirit true
If respect is earned through sweat and tears then he has surely paid his dues
He was flirting with disaster with each and every ride
Some may call it rodeo while others call it suicide
For some, the price you pay is high but tradition outweighs the cost
Where would rodeo be today without the likes of Thurman and Frost.
He rode for all he was worth that day and in his heart, he had no doubt
they were smiling down on him because that's what it's all about
If he left with some change in his pocket when all was said and done
and a buckle of gold to hold up his Wrangler jeans, he would feel he had truly won
For he knew it was only destiny that stood between him and each win
He would show them his pride, make his ride and then hit the road again
Thunder rolled through the grandstands that day as he picked himself up off the ground
He had captured the national title... he had won the last go round.
When his final ride was over, and memories were all that remain
He would look back on them fondly and recall the love of the game
Then one day he would close his eyes and take his final breath
But he would always be remembered for his life and not his death
Because a cowboy as tough as Jim Shoulders will never truly die
He will ride another bull someday in the rodeo in the sky
David from Prosper, TX
America has lost one of our last true heroes with the passing of Jim Shoulders. A man who lived what he believed in and showed many a young person the true cowboy way. From his trademark hat crease to his genuine smile he could make friends anywhere and everywhere. There will never again in this life be a grand gentleman such as he. The achievments he made were in a different time and culture in our country. He proved that you can become a champion in whatever you do. May GOD bless him in the great arena of Heaven and may the world be proud of the Oklahoma native who by all rights earned the name COWBOY.
