Jack Ward

2 Time PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider
1948-Living

Jack Ward was born in Caldwell, Kansas, on May 21, 1948, to parents Jack and Olga Ward. When Jack was 2 months old the family moved to Odessa, Texas. Jack Sr. owned a machine shop in Odessa, Texas, where Jack and his siblings all learned the machine shop trade. When growing up, the Wards always had horses and cows and calves on a small acreage in Odessa.

          At 13, Jack and his brothers Gary, Steve, and James started going to American Jr. Rodeo Association rodeos in New Mexico and the West Texas area. After graduating from Odessa High School in 1966, Jack bought his PRCA Permit and was also competing in college rodeos, first at South Plains Jr. College in Levelland, Texas, and then Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas, qualifying at the NIRA College National Finals for two years.

          Jack qualified for his first PRCA National Finals Rodeo in 1972 and competed there for 11 consecutive years. In 1973 he competed in Bareback Riding and Bull Riding at the NFR. In 1977, he won his first World Championship Bareback Title. He also repeated again with another World Champion Bareback Title in 1978.

After Jack retired from the Rodeo arena, he started “Jack Ward Custom Rodeo Equipment” building bareback riggings for the competing cowboys. The riggin’ on display is one that Jack built.

Jack has a daughter Tye and a son Tanner and five grandchildren and currently resides outside Weatherford, Texas.