Son of the famous Pueblo family rodeo trio is inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Yates family has been a fixture on the professional rodeo circuit for nearly 50 years, and now one of them will be honored with the sport’s highest honor the same week the NFR Open begins at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs.

JD Yates, son of Dick Yates and brother of barrel racing champion Kelly Yates, recently received news that he has been inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

“We were very lucky that we were such a close-knit family because we all had to be there for each other to support each other. There were a lot of moving parts,” Yates told KRDO 13’s Josh Helmuth.

JD said he initially received a call from the PRCA but ignored it because he thought there was a problem. He grinned and became emotional when a second call came in immediately afterward.

“(He) said, ‘JD, this is Tom Glause. I want to tell you that you’re inducted into the Hall of Fame.’ That’s pretty cool,” JD said, almost choking.

At age 15, JD became the youngest PRCA contestant to qualify for the National Finals. A few years later, he and his sister and father became the first such family trio to qualify for the National Finals in 1984. Since then, JD has competed in the National Finals in Team Roping 21 times.

“When we walked into the arena, it was business,” JD said. “There was no father-son. It was that we were going to do this and make a living at it. And it had to be business. Now when we walked out of the arena, he was my father.”

Dad is grateful for the journey because he was able to be a part of it and witness what his family continues to accomplish in this field.

“They have always been a fan of the horse business and have learned through hard work to be successful in it,” said Dick Yates.

“I don’t know how I could have had a better life and done what I wanted and raised the family that I have. So it was a good time,” he said.

JD added, “Our family has been close since we were kids. I mean, we’ve all done it together.”

Trey Yates, JD’s son, continues the family tradition and is also a world champion team roper.

JD will be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs along with numerous other historic inductees on Saturday, July 13. Tickets are available for $15 at the door.