PRORODEO Sports News - July 2, 2026

RECENT PASSINGS

DICK YATES, A 13-TIME NFR TEAM ROPER, AND RODEO AMBASSADOR, PASSES AWAY BY PRCA STAFF

Dick Yates and JD Yates compete at the 1980 NFR. PRCA photo by Jim Fain

T eam roper Dick Yates, a 13-time National Final Rodeo qualifier, passed away June 19 in Pueblo, Colo. He was 88. Yates, a team roping header, qual ified for the NFR from 1975-84 and then from 1986-88. He finished fifth in the world standings in 1978 and tied for fifth in 1983. Both times he was heading for his son, J.D. Yates. J.D. was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2024.

Dick and J.D. roped together at the NFR 13 times total. Dick’s grandson, Trey Yates is a team roping heeler and a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR in 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2025. “I want people to remember my dad for the person he was and the compet itor he was,” said J.D. to the ProRo deo Sports News. “Also, for what he did for the industry, and what he did for team roping to get it started in the right direction when there wasn’t

much money in it and there weren’t a lot of rodeos. He got a lot of things going in rodeo, and then it escalated from that. “He was a good competitor and a good ambassador of rodeo.” The Yates family owns two NFR re cords that have lasted for decades. In 1975, J.D. became the youngest PRCA contestant to qualify for the National Finals at age 15 years 4 months, beat ing Ace Berry’s previous record by 7 months.

56 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE July 2, 2026