John Rae Powell

Steer Tripper, Tie Down Roper & Team Roper
1925-2015

John Rae Powell was born in Fort Worth, Texas on February 10, 1925.  He graduated from Sweetwater, Texas High School and immediately joined the Marine Corps where he served 2 1/2 years in the South Pacific.  In 1947, he moved to Eldorado to run his mother’s ranch that had been established by her father, John Rae in 1883.  John continued to own and operate this ranch until his passing in 2015.  Ranching was his love and first priority, but roping was his passion.

            John Rae taught himself to rope by roping goats at the ranch during the 1930s.  He was able to continue with that passion until 2015.  At 90 years of age, he was still winning money in tie-down and breakaway roping, even tying a calf in 14 seconds at the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association in Stephenville, Texas.

            Through the years, John won championships in steer tripping, tie-down roping, and team roping.  Many of his good horses over the years were those he raised and trained.  One of his best was known as “Ole Stud” who was named horse of the year by the Senior Steer Ropers Association.  John was a PRCA Gold Card Member.  He entered the West of the Pecos Rodeo in the ’50s and ’60s and placed many, many times.  

            John Rae Powell passed away on May 15, 2015, so he was inducted posthumously into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.