John W. “Johnny” Jones Jr. was born in August 1960 in Santa Maria, California. He grew up playing football, baseball, and basketball. Jones’ athleticism eventually spurred him, at age 15, to follow in the rodeo footsteps of his father, John W. Jones Sr., who was the 1956 Rookie of the Year and NFR Steer Wrestling Champion in 1970.
A two-time California high school state champion steer wrestler and tie-down roper in 1977 and 1978, Jones was the 1979 NIRA West Coast Region bulldogging champion. Named 1981 overall PRCA Rookie of the Year, Jones joined his father in becoming the first-ever father and son to both earn the honor. He qualified for the NFR 10 times in steer wrestling, winning the 10-head NFR average in 1998, and World Steer Wrestling Champion titles in 1984, 1988, and 1989.
Though bulldogging was Jones’ specialty, he competed in all timed events in every major rodeo and many small- and medium-sized rodeos, too, twice qualifying for the NFR in calf-roping. In 1996 Jones was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame next to his father, who was an inaugural member in 1979. Today, Jones farms and ranches in Morro Bay, California.
