EVENTS
Calf Roper, Champion, 1947, 1949
Troy Fort was born in 1917 on the family ranch near Lovington, New Mexico. He started roping calves at age 16, tutored by veteran roper Jake McClure. He entered his first competition in Lovington 1936. His first major contest came at Fort Worth, where he finished in the money.
Small in stature, Troy Fort relied on roping talent, momentum, and a well-trained horse to help him snag his calf. In the 1940s and 1950s he was the man to beat at matched steer roping and at calf roping. He bested Toots Mansfield, Jess Goodspeed, and other top hands. A string of victories at Tucson, Houston, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden, and other venues brought Fort the championship in 1947, a feat that he repeated in 1949.
After retiring from the arena, Troy Fort ranched near Lovington, New Mexico, until his death in 1993.
