Ward, Jack

Bareback Riding • Inducted 1995

Born May 21, 1948, in Caldwell, Kan., Jack Ward began his career as a bull rider by winning the 1969 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Championship. He qualified for his first NFR in bareback riding in 1972 and went on to make 11 appearances at rodeo’s world championships. Those 11 trips gave him two world bareback championships and three NFR aggregate titles. During his riding career, Ward was known as the kind of cowboy who excelled when the competition was at its toughest. He served as the bareback director on the PRCA Board of Directors from 1977-79 where he worked diligently to keep professionalism in the event a priority. Ward never traded in his rigging when he retired from the arena; he just used it as a prototype for his rodeo equipment company. “My ultimate goal in life and in rodeo is to leave this earth and not have one enemy. I believe if I can do that, I’ll have been successful,” Ward said.

World Championships: 2

Bareback Riding: 1977, 1978

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

Bareback Riding: 1974, 1975, 1976

RAM Circuit Year-End Champion

Texas Circuit:

Bareback Riding: 1981

Born: May 21, 1948 in Caldwell, Kansas

NFR Qualifications: 11

Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
Bareback Riding: 1973

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
Bareback Riding: 1981 (tie)

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
All-Around: 1973
Bareback Riding: 1978

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Bareback Riding: 1975, 1979

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Bareback Riding: 1975, 1978

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
Bull Riding: 1971 (tie)

Iowa’s Championship Rodeo / Sidney, IA
Bareback Riding: 1977, 1979 (tie)

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
All-Around: 1977
Bull Riding: 1977 (tie)

Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Bull Riding: 1975

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
Bareback Riding: 1977

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Bareback Riding: 1973