EVENTS
Steer Wrestler
In 1924 Richard B. “Dick” Shelton, wrangling horses in McMullen County, Texas, caught the eye of Zack Miller, producer of the 101 Ranch Show. Impressed by the young man’s ability to handle unruly stock, Miller hired him. Born near Longview, Texas, in 1901, Shelton proved to be one of the sport’s top hands of the 1920s and 1930s.
After his professional debut at Beeville, Texas, in 1919, Dick Shelton made the national circuit for two decades. He worked the roping events, the steer-wrestling, bull-riding, saddle-bronc riding events, and also entered the wild horse racing contests. Between 1926 and 1931 he won the bulldogging title for five consecutive years at Madison Square Garden and three consecutive years at Pendleton. He followed with the all-around title at Chicago in 1933 and Fort Worth in 1934.
An accident in 1940 ended Shelton’s competitive career, and he retired to his Texas ranch. A noted breeder of Santa Gertrudis cattle, Dick Shelton died in Cotulla, Texas, in 1970.
