Joe Beaver

Hailing from Victoria, Texas, Joe Beaver grew up dreaming of becoming a cowboy. He started roping at the age of five and never stopped. In 1985 at the age of 20, Beaver won the PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year award and entered the NFR in Las Vegas as the youngest tie-down roper. After 10 days of intense competition, he left Las Vegas with his first world title and the Thomas & Mack Center became known as “the house that Joe built.” Beaver would return to Las Vegas to collect four additional world tie-down roping titles and three world all-around titles. When injuries forced him out of competition for most of 1999, Beaver still made the trip to the NFR – this time as a television commentator for ESPN. He returned in 2000 to win his third and final all-around title. He was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002. He continues to conduct clinics teaching young ropers how to compete and serve as a commentator, sharing his expertise and humor.