In the world of professional rodeo, few names carry the weight and resilience of Stran Smith. Now, after a 20-year career filled with grit, glory, heartbreak, and triumph, the Childress, Texas, cowboy is set to be enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
This honor, to be formally celebrated on July 12 in Colorado Springs, isn’t just a recognition of titles or stats—it’s a tribute to a man whose journey through the rodeo world inspired fans and fellow competitors alike.
A Career Built on Determination
Stran Smith’s rodeo résumé speaks for itself: 11 qualifications for the prestigious National Finals Rodeo (NFR), a coveted NFR Average title, and the crown jewel—a World Championship title in 2008. That alone would cement most rodeo athletes into history. But Smith’s story isn’t just about wins. It’s about the fight to keep showing up when life knocked him down.
Early in his career, Smith’s rising trajectory was shattered in 1996 by a head-on collision with a drunk driver. The accident claimed the life of his best friend and traveling partner, Shawn McMullen, and left Smith physically and emotionally shaken. Lesser men may have stepped away. Smith kept going.
Then, in 2003, another blow: a stroke caused by a previously undetected hole in his heart. At the time, it was the kind of medical episode that could’ve—and arguably should’ve—ended his career. But once again, with determination and a bit of medical innovation, Smith underwent an experimental procedure using an Abbott Amplatzer device, which allowed him to return to competition.
And return he did. Despite a devastating injury in 2006 and the death of his prized horse in 2007, Smith pressed on. In 2008, with millions watching, he clinched the World Championship title—a comeback for the ages, and a moment that transcended sport.
A Life Beyond the Arena
Off the dirt and out of the spotlight, Smith built a legacy just as rich. Known for his strong faith and character, he co-founded Elevation Sunday, the church service held during NFR week—creating space for cowboys and fans alike to gather in community and reflection.
He also made a mark in the world of western fashion and media, serving as a spokesmodel for the Wrangler 20X brand and even earning a nod from People Magazine as one of its “Most Eligible Bachelors” in 1999.
After retiring from competition in 2016, Smith teamed up with his wife, longtime NFR sideline reporter Jennifer Smith, to build a variety of business ventures. The couple launched STS Ranchwear with Carrol Originalwear, opened a boutique concept store called 1930 Remnant in their hometown of Childress, and introduced a line of colognes—proving their creative cowboy spirit runs well beyond the arena.
They’ve also stayed connected to the land, raising cattle on their family ranch and sharing their leadership insights through the co-authored book A Colonel & A Cowboy: Strategies of the Elite with retired U.S. Army Colonel J. Craig Flowers. The pair is now preparing to launch a podcast aimed at sharing life lessons, stories, and strategies that have carried them through high-pressure careers in two very different worlds.
A Cowboy's Humble Reflection
When asked about his Hall of Fame induction, Smith’s words echoed the humility that’s defined his career.
“Being counted among some of my heroes and the most elite ropers in the history of rodeo in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is an immense privilege,” he said. “It’s not something earned or expected, but I am profoundly grateful and deeply humbled by this honor. To me, this is more a credit to the people I’ve been so blessed to be surrounded by than anything I’ve ever accomplished on my own.”
A Well-Deserved Honor
Stran Smith’s story is more than just rodeo—it’s about perseverance, faith, love, and an unshakable belief in getting back in the saddle, no matter what. He’s not just a cowboy who roped calves—he roped the hearts of fans with every comeback, every quiet show of strength, and every nod to the ones who helped him get there.
