A Champion’s Last Ride

A grateful public pours out its affection as rodeo great Jim Shoulders is laid to rest.

By D. L. Travis

A helicopter circled the Jim Shoulders Living Legend Arena in Henryetta, Okla., in June as more than a thousand friends and family congregated to pay their last respects to the man that most of them had known for at least 50 years: the legendary Jim Shoulders. The helicopter, arranged by longtime friend Clem McSpadden, helped dry the arena, saturated from the 28 inches of rain that had fallen in Oklahoma in the last six months.

And even though weather forecasters predicted an 80-percent chance of rain that day, the weather couldn’t have been better. The clouds kept the sun from bearing down and a light breeze made everyone feel comfortable. Family and close friends sat in folding chairs in the arena, while all of the seats surrounding the arena were filled to capacity. There was standing room only when Jim took his last ride into the arena.

A hush fell on the crowd and all stood in silence as a black horse, pulling a solid black wagon, carrying a coffin made of pine – with six black horseshoe handles and the JS brand on the sides – entered the arena. It quietly rolled past the spectators, followed by the family, who walked to their seats in the arena.

Lying in repose, Jim looked like the champion that he was: dressed in a splendid red cowboy shirt that looked like one only a champion would wear, Wrangler jeans, and a magnificent World Championship Cowboy trophy buckle. His silver hair shined brightly. The lining of the coffin was arrayed in western motif. Jim looked every inch a champion.

Brothers of Jim Shoulders. L to R, Marvin, Bob and Joe.

Cowboys, friends and neighbors had come from far and near to say a final goodbye to the legend. There were world champions from all over the United States, cowboys with whom he rode the rodeo circuit in the ’50s and ’60s, stock contractors, ranchers and neighbors that he saw every day in Henryetta. He made everyone he ever met feel like someone he had known his entire life.

Former world champion cowboys Larry Mahan, Don Gay, Tuff Hedeman, Ote Berry, Charlie Sampson, Jack Buschbom and Shawn Davis were there, as well as many of Jim's compadres from the days when he was rodeoing; Curly Hebb, Zeek Henry, Dilton Emerson, R.C. Bales, Dan Taylor, Gene Peacock, Jim Smith, Neil Gay, rodeo clown, D. J. “Kajun Kid” Gaudin, and many more. A lot of reminiscing about old times was overheard prior to the funeral service and afterwards at the reception held in the First United Methodist Church of Henryetta.

Country music artist Red Steagall sang some of Jim’s favorite songs, one of which was about Jim’s famous bull, “Tornado” and about the event that will forever live in rodeo history: the night that Tornado, unridden after 220 attempts, was ridden for the first time by Freckles Brown. Red also recited cowboy poetry by Baxter Black. Jim’s daughters spoke to the audience about their dad and said, “When we see you later, we don’t want to see anyone crying or sad. Dad wanted everyone to be happy and this is a celebration of his life, so let’s not be sad, because he wouldn’t want it that way.

Clem McSpadden greets longtime friend, PRCA Bullrider and Gold Card member, Zeek Henry.

Clem McSpadden told several stories that depicted Jim as “king of the one-liners” and gave examples of his humorous witticisms. The minister of Jim’s church, Rev. Rik Marion, also testified of Jim’s humor. He remembered that Jim always loved to hit him with little “zingers” as he was leaving church, such as one time when he said, “That was a good sermon, Reverend. I enjoyed hearing that one again.” Another time Reverend Ric remembered was the time that he spoke at a church luncheon and had probably talked a little longer than he should have.

As he was leaving, Jim told the Reverend, “Well, I think I will go get a haircut.” Surprised, the Reverend said, “Now? Why didn’t you get a haircut before you came in here?” Jim replied with a smile, “I didn’t need one then.”

McSpadden knew Jim probably as well as anyone ever knew him. Clem said Jim was more than likely up there in heaven right now, talking to Freckles, Lane Frost, and all the other cowboys who have gone on before, and probably trying to get together a Sunday matinee performance. “But he won’t be up by the bucking chutes,” said McSpadden. “He'll be down by the timing chutes, trying to start an argument with the bulldoggers.”

Marvin Paul Shoulders, (right) son of Jim Shoulders, greets guests at reception following the funeral.

One poignant moment came when McSpadden told about a friend of Jim’s who had cancer a few years ago. “Jim asked this fellow once if he was scared, and the fellow said, ‘A little bit’.”

Jim said, “Don't worry. It's just like drawing a bull that hasn’t been ridden. You haven’t had him, but he hasn’t had you either. You’re going to be all right.”

McSpadden’s voice broke with emotion as he continued, “And that man ... was me.” He paused, as he gained composure, and then said that Jim was right, and about two weeks earlier, in their next to last conversation, McSpadden had told Jim that his doctor had given him a clean bill of health and he was cancer free.

Jim’s son, Marvin Paul Shoulders, said his dad was the “Babe Ruth of rodeo”, which is true. With sixteen world championships, the things that Jim has accomplished will probably never again be equaled in the annals of Rodeo History. Of course, it’s possible those records could be broken some day, but one thing is for sure: There will never, ever be another man like Jim Shoulders.

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