Miller, Tom

Notable • Inducted 2025

It is no secret that South Dakota has produced some of the best saddle bronc riders in the business. Tom Miller fits right in. The ranch-raised cowboy started in rodeo at the age of nine. He competed for the Sturgis High School Rodeo Team in multiple events. After graduation, Miller joined the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and won the All-Around Championship in 1970 and 1971.

Miller joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1970 and competed in most of the events. He soon realized that competing at the professional level would require specialization, so he chose saddle bronc riding. For the first few years of his professional career, Miller divided his time between the cattle ranch he helped run with his father and brother and riding broncs. In 1975, he decided to try giving rodeo a larger amount of his time. He won the National Finals Rodeo Average that year.

Over the next six years, Miller would qualify for five more National Finals Rodeos. The 1979 season looked to be his year to win the world championship. When the dust settled after the ten days, Bobby Berger won the world title by $5.28, and Miller had won his second NFR Average buckle. Miller would win a third Average buckle in 1981. During this time, he also captured four Badlands Circuit Saddle Bronc Championships (1977-1980).

In 1982, Miller joined the PRCA’s Rules Committee where he served for four years. He became a judge that same year and continued in that role for over twenty years. Miller also served 3 years on the Humane Committee. He was selected by the Saddle Bronc Riders to judge the National Finals Rodeo five times. Miller also served as the National High School Rodeo director for two years. He has been inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Casey Tibbs Foundation Hall in 1994. He instructed saddle bronc schools for over 30 years, many of them at the Korkow Ranch. Through it all, Miller continued to raise cattle and quarter horses.

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion: 3

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1975, 1979, 1981

Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion: 1

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1979

Circuit Year-End Champion: 4

Badlands Circuit:

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980

Born: December 27, 1948 in Rapid City, South Dakota

Joined RCA: 1970

NFR Qualifications: 6