Jim Bob Feller was born in March 1951 in Waco, Texas. At age 7 his grandfather made him a woodcarving of a rodeo clown. Though neither Feller nor his grandfather had ever been to a rodeo, he feels it may have been an omen.
For 51 years, Feller has been a bullfighter, barrelman, and funnyman at rodeos throughout the United States. He was barrelman for the Wrangler Bullfight Finals in 1991, 1998, and 1999. Feller also worked the Ram National Circuit Finals as barrelman in 1993; the Texas Circuit Finals in 1992, 1993, and 2003; and the Ram Turquoise Circuit Finals from 1991 – 1997.
Feller’s acts have been varied, but his “old buckin’ car” and disappearing act featuring his dog dressed as a tiger were fan favorites. For years as a bullfighter he worked with his brother, Tom Feller, also a barrelman. In 1999, Wrangler sent Feller to Barretos, Brazil, as a barrelman for one of the largest rodeos in the world. In all, Feller worked 15 consecutive years at both the Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Sidney, Iowa, rodeos, and 10 years at the Tucson, Arizona, rodeo. He was the featured clown at the Bishop Mule Days for 23 years. Feller currently works the Mesquite Rodeo most of the season. He has served on the PRCA Grievance Committee for more than 15 years. He and his wife, Donna, live in Granbury, Texas.
