Jo Ramsey Decker was born in 1925 at San Angelo, Texas, and grew up on ranches in Texas, Mexico, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. She rode in her first rodeo in Alpine, Texas, at age four. An accomplished horse woman, she was chosen as a Ranch Sponsor Girl at the Madison Square Garden Rodeo in 1944 and 1946. There she met and married All-Around Champion Cowboy Tater Decker.
Jo Decker served as a rodeo secretary for 25 years throughout the United States. At one time or another, she worked for rodeo contractors Albert Harris, Gene Autry, Everett Colburn, Beutler Brothers, Harry Knight, Hoss Inman, Harry Vold and Mike Cervi. She also played an important role in planning and coordinating the first National Finals Rodeo in 1959,at which she carried the American flag in the opening ceremonies.
During the 1950s, Jo Decker began designing western clothing, first for herself and then for a growing clientele that included Rex Allen, Rose Maddox, Lynn Anderson and Princess Grace of Monaco. Her Jo Decker Originals were featured in a special department at Neiman Marcus.
Jo Decker received the Tad Lucas Memorial Award in 1999. She and Tater Decker now reside on their ranch near Clayton, Oklahoma.
Jo Decker passed away in 2011.
