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National Rodeo Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2025
Monty "HP" Evetts
Born November 28, 1951, to Hoke and Alma Evetts in Pumpkin Center, California, Monty Holcomb Paul “HP” Evetts entered his first rodeo against the men in Laton, California as an 8-year-old boy. The talented, fearless gunslinger went on to rodeo greatness and forever changed the game with his range and reaching ability with a head rope.
Trailblazing brothers Leo and Jerold Camarillo took notice of Evetts’ talent and drafted him onto their team. With Jerold heeling behind him, Evetts was the 1974 World Champion Team Roper. Evetts roped at the National Finals Rodeo nine times, including twice with Daddy Hoke.
Beyond the rodeo arena, Evetts worked as a stuntman and actor, and made appearances in such blockbusters as “Dances with Wolves,” “Wyatt Earp” and “Comes a Horseman.”
Evetts defied the odds decades ago when he returned to roping after miraculously surviving a 1984 car wreck that broke his neck.
At 73, the unstoppable Evetts continues to stay active as a competitive jackpot and rodeo roper. This year, he returned to the rodeo in Laton, heading for his son Monty Holcomb Paul II, and often ropes with Leo’s son Trey Camarillo.
Born November 28, 1951, to Hoke and Alma Evetts in Pumpkin Center, California, Monty Holcomb Paul “HP” Evetts entered his first rodeo against the men in Laton, California as an 8-year-old boy. The talented, fearless gunslinger went on to rodeo greatness and forever changed the game with his range and reaching ability with a head rope.
Trailblazing brothers Leo and Jerold Camarillo took notice of Evetts’ talent and drafted him onto their team. With Jerold heeling behind him, Evetts was the 1974 World Champion Team Roper. Evetts roped at the National Finals Rodeo nine times, including twice with Daddy Hoke.
Beyond the rodeo arena, Evetts worked as a stuntman and actor, and made appearances in such blockbusters as “Dances with Wolves,” “Wyatt Earp” and “Comes a Horseman.”
Evetts defied the odds decades ago when he returned to roping after miraculously surviving a 1984 car wreck that broke his neck.
At 73, the unstoppable Evetts continues to stay active as a competitive jackpot and rodeo roper. This year, he returned to the rodeo in Laton, heading for his son Monty Holcomb Paul II, and often ropes with Leo’s son Trey Camarillo.
