Jackie Worthington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jackie Worthington
Birth nameJeanette Katherine Worthington
OccupationRodeo competitor
DisciplineBarrel racing
Born(1924-08-13)August 13, 1924
Jacksboro, Texas
DiedSeptember 26, 1987(1987-09-26) (aged 63)
Jacksboro, Texas
Honors
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame

Jeanette Katherine Worthington (August 13, 1924 – September 26, 1987) was an American Cowgirl and founding member and former president of the Girls Rodeo Association, now the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA).

Early life[]

Jackie Worthington was born Jeanette Katherine Worthington on August 13, 1924,[1] on a 10,000 acre ranch near Jacksboro, Texas. She learned riding on her parent's ranch, using all types of livestock to train. Since other rodeo events were not considered fit for a women, the first event she was allowed to compete in was barrel racing. Finally, in 1940, at a girls only rodeo, she rode an exhibition bull for $7.50 in Wichita Falls, Texas.[2] Worthington was also an accomplished athlete, musician, and licensed pilot. She graduated from the Texas State College for Women in 1949.[3][4]

Career[]

Worthington was one of the 38 women who came together in San Angelo, Texas, on February 28, 1948, founding the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA), now the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.[5] As a founding member, she was also the Bareback Riding Director in 1948, later serving as president of the GRA in 1955.[6] As president, she signed an agreement with the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) (now the PRCA) for women’s events at RCA rodeos to be GRA-sanctioned.[7]

She retired at age 32, having spent 13 years at the rodeo with 6 all-around titles and 23 world championship wins in various events, including 7 in bull riding.[3][2] After retiring, she returned to run her family's ranch, West Fork, in Jacksboro.[8]

In 1975, Worthington was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.[3] In 2009, she was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Jeanette Katherine "Jackie" Worthington". Find A Grave. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Emmis 1976, pp. 170–174.
  3. ^ a b c "Jackie Worthington". National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  4. ^ LeCompte 2009.
  5. ^ Lou, LeCompte, Mary (June 15, 2010). "Women's Professional Rodeo Association". tshaonline.org. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "Celebrating 70 Years of Women in Rodeo". The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  7. ^ "History of the Rodeo Cowgirl". American Cowboy | Western Lifestyle - Travel - People. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  8. ^ "Texas Gal Gives Up Rodeo". The Ville Platte Gazette. Ville Platte, Louisiana. December 22, 1977. p. 3. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  9. ^ "Inductees". texasrodeocowboy.com. Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

Bibliography[]

Retrieved from ""