PRORODEO Sports - April 24, 2026 Digital Edition

PASSINGS

PRORODEO HALL OF FAMER NANCY SHEPPARD PASSES AWAY PRCA Staff

P roRodeo Hall of Famer Nancy Shep pard passed away on April 8 at her home in Globe, Ariz. She was 96 years old. Sheppard was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2003 in Colorado Springs, Colo., as a contract personnel selection. She started her career as a trick rider at 8 years old, riding and roping at rodeos across the country from 1938-61. Sheppard was born to a ranching family on Dec. 29, 1929, in Fort Worth, Texas. Her father was a Cowboys’ Turtles Asso ciation member, and her mother showed horses at the Cowtown Coliseum as a child. By the time Sheppard turned 11, she was performing at the Pendleton (Ore.) Roundup, and at 17 years old, she per formed at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After retirement from full-time work on the road, she made trick roping appearances at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and in Italy for the famous clothing designer Giorgio Armani. She also spent a lot of time visiting chil dren’s wards at hospitals as she traveled along the rodeo road. At the time of her induction, Sheppard was the only woman to perfect standing on the back of a running horse while spin ning two ropes. Throughout the 1950s, she served as the representative for the contract acts to the Rodeo Cowboys Association.

PRCA File Photo

48 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE APRIL 24, 2026