Back to all
National Rodeo Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1969
Chester Byers
EVENTS
Trick Roper, Champion, 1916
Born in 1892 at Knoxville, Illinois, Chester Byers was probably the best-known roper in the world during the 1920s and 1930s. He dominated in trick and fancy roping when these skills were still contested rodeo events, and he was an outstanding calf and steer roper as well. He competed at Pendleton, Calgary, Madison Square Garden, and all the major rodeo venues.
Byers made his debut as a performing roper at age 13 with the Pawnee Bill Show. Two years later he went on tour with Lucille Mulhall’s Congress of Rough Riders. In 1916 Byers won the trick-roping championship at the Sheepshead Bay Stampede and retained the title until 1933.
Prior to his death in 1945, Chester Byers twirled his ropes and made “five horse catches” to the delight of thousands in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and England. Junior Eskew, himself a brilliant rope handler, remembered Byers as “the greatest trick and fancy roper of his day.” Of Chester Byers, Will Rogers said, “I only have two things that I will always die proud of, one of them is that I used to teach Chet Byers tricks with a rope. . . .”
EVENTS
Trick Roper, Champion, 1916
Born in 1892 at Knoxville, Illinois, Chester Byers was probably the best-known roper in the world during the 1920s and 1930s. He dominated in trick and fancy roping when these skills were still contested rodeo events, and he was an outstanding calf and steer roper as well. He competed at Pendleton, Calgary, Madison Square Garden, and all the major rodeo venues.
Byers made his debut as a performing roper at age 13 with the Pawnee Bill Show. Two years later he went on tour with Lucille Mulhall’s Congress of Rough Riders. In 1916 Byers won the trick-roping championship at the Sheepshead Bay Stampede and retained the title until 1933.
Prior to his death in 1945, Chester Byers twirled his ropes and made “five horse catches” to the delight of thousands in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and England. Junior Eskew, himself a brilliant rope handler, remembered Byers as “the greatest trick and fancy roper of his day.” Of Chester Byers, Will Rogers said, “I only have two things that I will always die proud of, one of them is that I used to teach Chet Byers tricks with a rope. . . .”
