Fred Whitfield (rodeo cowboy) facts for kids

Fred Whitfield (born August 5, 1967) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy. He was a champion in tie-down roping. He won eight world championships from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He also won the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) three times. Seven of his world titles were in tie-down roping, and one was the all-around world championship. Fred Whitfield is one of the most successful African-American professional rodeo cowboys ever. He was added to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2004.

Early Life and Rodeo Start

Fred Whitfield was born in Hockley, Texas, on August 5, 1967. He grew up in Cypress, Texas, near Houston. His family faced many challenges.

A neighbor, Roy Moffitt, was seven years older than Fred. Roy became a mentor to Fred. When Fred was six, Roy taught him how to rope. They often practiced their roping skills. The Moffitt family let Fred use their horses and equipment for youth rodeos. They also helped pay his entry fees.

Fred became very good at tie-down roping. In this event, a calf weighing about 190 to 270 pounds is released. A cowboy on horseback then lassos the calf. The cowboy quickly gets off the horse, gently guides the calf to the ground, and ties any three of its legs together. The cowboy with the fastest time wins.

As a teenager, Fred worked training horses for a local rancher. He also competed in amateur rodeos. This included the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeos, which were for African-American cowboys. He finished high school in 1986.

Becoming a Professional Cowboy

Fred Whitfield joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 1990. This allowed him to compete in big rodeos. His early years were tough. Most PRCA members were white, and very few were black. Cowboys needed their own gear and horses. Not many black cowboys had these things, which made it hard to join the sport.

Fred faced challenges because of his race. Sometimes, crowds would say mean things when he competed. Some cowboys tried to make him angry. But Fred said this only made him stronger. He wanted to win even more when people doubted him.

Professional cowboys earn money by placing high in rodeo events. This prize money helps them qualify for the annual National Finals Rodeo (NFR). In his first year, Fred was one of the top 15 earners in tie-down roping. This made him one of the few first-year competitors to ever qualify for the NFR.

First Big Wins

Fred Whitfield won the NFR in 1991 in tie-down roping. He was the second black man to win an NFR title. He was also the first to win a timed event title.

In 1996, Fred won the world championship again. The next year, he set a new record at the NFR. He scored a total of 84 points over ten rounds. In one round, Fred set a new single-run world record with a time of 6.9 seconds. This record was broken just minutes later by another cowboy.

Fred won the all-around world championship in 1999. This title goes to the cowboy who earns the most money in multiple events.

He won the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for the first time in 2000. In 2002, Fred was one of the United States representatives at the Olympic Command Performance Rodeo. This event showcased Western culture during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 2004, Fred Whitfield was honored by being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. He won his eighth world championship in 2005 in tie-down roping.

Later Career and Mentorship

Fred won the Calgary Stampede in 2007. After an injury that year, he missed qualifying for the NFR for the first time. He also did not qualify in 2009 and 2011.

A young black cowboy from Texas, Cory Solomon, joined the PRCA in 2009. Fred Whitfield became Cory's mentor, helping him learn and grow in the sport.

In 2011, Fred won the year-end tie-down roping championship for the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA), which is a semi-professional league.

By 2013, Fred Whitfield had earned more prize money in tie-down roping than any cowboy before him. In July 2012, his total earnings went over $3 million.

Fred started to compete less often, wanting to spend more time at home. He also trained other athletes. In 2015, he competed in only 25 rodeos, but his great reputation still got him invited to major events like the Calgary Stampede.

Elite Rodeo Athletes and Retirement

In 2015, Fred Whitfield and other top cowboys formed a new group called the Elite Rodeo Athletes (ERA). This group was owned by the cowboys themselves. They planned to have their own rodeos and a world championship. The PRCA then changed its rules. They said cowboys who had a financial interest in other rodeo groups could not compete in PRCA rodeos, including the NFR. This meant ERA members could only compete in non-PRCA events.

At the 2016 Calgary Stampede, Fred finished second, earning $25,000. After the ERA stopped competing, Fred did not return to the PRCA. He mostly competed in the semi-professional CPRA.

Fred was invited to compete at the 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. After his performances there, Fred Whitfield officially retired from rodeo competition.

Honors and Achievements

Fred Whitfield has received many honors for his amazing rodeo career:

• 2000 Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
• 2003 Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
• 2004 ProRodeo Hall of Fame
• 2005 Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame
• 2005 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
• 2012 National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame
• 2012 St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame

Personal Life

Fred Whitfield married Cassie in 2000. They have two daughters.

The Whitfields bought a ranch in Hockley, Texas, where Fred trained and sold horses for several years. Before he retired from rodeo, he sold the ranch and his horses. He then took a job in sales for a gas and oil company. He and his family now live in Magnolia, Texas.

In 2013, Fred Whitfield published his autobiography, Gold Buckles Don't Lie. He wrote it with Terri Powers.

Fred also played the famous black cowboy and rancher John Ware in a documentary called John Ware Reclaimed. The film was released in 2020.