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North Texas Crime and Criminal Justice Series
Convict Cowboys: The Untold History of the Texas Prison Rodeo (Volume 10)
Convict Cowboys is the first book on the nation’s first prison rodeo, which ran from 1931 to 1986. At its apogee the Texas Prison Rodeo drew 30,000 spectators on October Sundays. Mitchel P. Roth portrays the Texas Prison Rodeo against a backdrop of Texas history, covering the history of rodeo, the prison system, and convict leasing, as well as important figures in Texas penology including Marshall Lee Simmons, O.B. Ellis, and George J. Beto, and the changing prison demimonde.
Over the years the rodeo arena not only boasted death-defying entertainment that would make professional cowboys think twice, but featured a virtual who’s who of American popular culture. Readers will be treated to stories about numerous American and Texas folk heroes, including Western film stars ranging from Tom Mix to John Wayne, and music legends such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Through extensive archival research Roth introduces readers to the convict cowboys in both the rodeo arena and behind prison walls, giving voice to a legion of previously forgotten inmate cowboys who risked life and limb for a few dollars and the applause of free-world crowds.
Over the years the rodeo arena not only boasted death-defying entertainment that would make professional cowboys think twice, but featured a virtual who’s who of American popular culture. Readers will be treated to stories about numerous American and Texas folk heroes, including Western film stars ranging from Tom Mix to John Wayne, and music legends such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Through extensive archival research Roth introduces readers to the convict cowboys in both the rodeo arena and behind prison walls, giving voice to a legion of previously forgotten inmate cowboys who risked life and limb for a few dollars and the applause of free-world crowds.
- GenresNonfiction
448 pages, Hardcover
Published July 28, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 11, 2018
Ever seen Urban Cowboy or Stir Crazy? Both films make reference to the Texas Prison Rodeo, an event dreamed up during the Depression as a way to gain money for the prison recreation and education fund. This book provides details about the TPR from its inception in 1931 to it's end in 1986. I learned a good bit.
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September 16, 2019by Gatsy Moye
An era of poverty and segregation, in 1931 few entertainment opportunities existed in the Southern U.S. until the Huntsville Texas Prison Rodeo (TPR). In Convict Cowboys: The Untold History of the Texas Prison Rodeo, Roth explained in fascinating detail that for 50 years, folks from all over the United States and the world would arrive in this quaint, rural town to watch convicts compete, risking life and limb, in events including “saddle bronc, bareback bronc, and bull riding” (377).
Until 1965 and the abolition of Jim Crowe, the TPR was the only sport that welcomed all men, regardless of race, to compete against one another for the honor and privilege of being named The Top Hand.
Initially organized to supplement meager state and national correctional funding for basic living essentials (i.e. food, clean water, and hygiene), the TPR rapidly grew and gained world-renowned success as a major source of local income and a sought-after stage for little- to well-known artists such as Johnny Cash, Pat Boone, John Wayne, and Elvis Presley.
However, in 1985 it became apparent that the TPR was more of a tradition than a viable income source. The crumbling arena needed an estimated $800,000 in repairs, and the TPR faced a $35,000 cash loss the previous year. A historical point of contention remains between prison officials and rodeo benefactors accusing the prison system of “simply not wanting to continue the rodeo” (359). Ultimately, it was the fact unqualified participants were competing in crippling events that had “never been authorized by state legislature,” (347) that led to the last TPR in 1984.
In 1990, when queried about the possibility of resuming the TPR tradition, Dan Beto (2nd generation Huntsville prison director) pointed out infeasibilities like fewer agricultural & ranching men; dangers of interfacility transportation; insufficient support staff “at a time when the prison system was short almost 2,000 correctional officers” (368); and ultimately restoration funding. The arena was demolished in 2012.
Convict Cowboys is a captivating read about a little-known aspect of Texas history.
https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=...
An era of poverty and segregation, in 1931 few entertainment opportunities existed in the Southern U.S. until the Huntsville Texas Prison Rodeo (TPR). In Convict Cowboys: The Untold History of the Texas Prison Rodeo, Roth explained in fascinating detail that for 50 years, folks from all over the United States and the world would arrive in this quaint, rural town to watch convicts compete, risking life and limb, in events including “saddle bronc, bareback bronc, and bull riding” (377).
Until 1965 and the abolition of Jim Crowe, the TPR was the only sport that welcomed all men, regardless of race, to compete against one another for the honor and privilege of being named The Top Hand.
Initially organized to supplement meager state and national correctional funding for basic living essentials (i.e. food, clean water, and hygiene), the TPR rapidly grew and gained world-renowned success as a major source of local income and a sought-after stage for little- to well-known artists such as Johnny Cash, Pat Boone, John Wayne, and Elvis Presley.
However, in 1985 it became apparent that the TPR was more of a tradition than a viable income source. The crumbling arena needed an estimated $800,000 in repairs, and the TPR faced a $35,000 cash loss the previous year. A historical point of contention remains between prison officials and rodeo benefactors accusing the prison system of “simply not wanting to continue the rodeo” (359). Ultimately, it was the fact unqualified participants were competing in crippling events that had “never been authorized by state legislature,” (347) that led to the last TPR in 1984.
In 1990, when queried about the possibility of resuming the TPR tradition, Dan Beto (2nd generation Huntsville prison director) pointed out infeasibilities like fewer agricultural & ranching men; dangers of interfacility transportation; insufficient support staff “at a time when the prison system was short almost 2,000 correctional officers” (368); and ultimately restoration funding. The arena was demolished in 2012.
Convict Cowboys is a captivating read about a little-known aspect of Texas history.
https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=...
August 3, 2026
3.5 stars….at age 11 my parents were invited out with friends to view the Huntsville prison rodeo. I am not sure I realized it was a prison rodeo until I saw men in white sitting under a caged bleacher. I picked up this book and learned about the creation, sustained success, and ultimate demise of the TPR. A 50+ year run isn’t too bad. The book can be repetitive at times but it was informative.
February 18, 2018
Excellent and entertaining history of the TPR.
February 18, 2025
Super interesting. This would be super interesting to see adapted into a novel based around O’Neal browning maybe. Crazy amount of research effort
June 14, 2025
If you’re a SHSU Alumni, you want to read this.
April 18, 2018
great historical book about Huntsville's TPR. living in Huntsville it brings understanding about it. too bad I never got to see it. the book in itself is quite interesting although a bit repetitive at times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews