EVENTS
Rodeo Producer and Stock Contractor
Born at Elk City, Oklahoma, in 1924, Jiggs Beutler had rodeo in his blood from the very beginning. His father, Elra, owned the famous Beutler Brothers stock-contracting company, first established in 1929. Before getting into the rodeo business, however, Jiggs served in World War II with the 82nd Airborne Division in Europe, winning the Purple Heart.
After the war Beutler took up rough-stock competition, but suffered a badly broken arm that ended his arena career. He then joined his father in the rodeo production business, first with the Beutler and Morgan company, and, after 1959, as Beutler and Son Rodeo Company. The name of Beutler and Son soon became synonymous the toughest stock in the industry, including #116 Speck, NFR Bucking Bull in 1959 and 1960, and Sam Bass, Bucking Horse of the Year in 1973.
In later years Beutler and Sons introduced arena contenders to three Bucking Bulls of the Year, two Saddle Broncs of the Year and three Bareback Broncs of the Year. Jiggs Beutler also is remembered in the sport as a driving force in organizing the first televised professional rodeo at Lubbock, Texas. He passed from the arena in 1980.
