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Thanks!

Quite a ride, a good man.

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(excerpted)

Jim Shoulders - Living Legends North Texas Equine.com.

Jim has met celebrities by the thousands; politicians, movie stars, and other notable sports legends he appeared with in the Miller Lite "All Stars" advertising campaign in the 1970's and '80's. The campaign ran for 15 years and was the 2nd most successful in advertising history. There was always plenty of joking on set. "Bob Uecker is the funniest man I was ever around," says Jim, "and he always made himself the butt of his jokes."

Jim says he is most proud of his family. "I have four kids and none of them has ever been in trouble or a worry to me." Of wife Sharon, he says "I'm thinkin' about keeping her. I don't have time to train another one." Their long-term marriage can be attributed to a mutual devotion that is evident today.

Sharon tells of their first date: "When he first asked me out, it was for an all day horseback ride - but he only owned one horse." When Jim dropped her off at home that evening, he turned to kiss her and she leaped from the back of the horse. "I was amazed she didn't get hurt" he says.

The next day he told friends he wouldn't see her again because "she had the opportunity to kiss me and she didn't. She had to be dumb." Sharon moved away and then back again over the next few years, seeing Jim on occasion.

Then she returned in her senior year of high school. They dated, and when Sharon's parents announced plans to move to Washington, Jim decided to take matters into his own hands. "I told I'd just have to marry her and keep her here because I couldn't move to Washington. There weren't enough rodeos."

In five years they had 3 small children and a 400 acre ranch outside Henryetta. Jim went off to rodeo and make money while Sharon tended the ranch and children. They drilled 6 water wells and found all too salty to use, so they had to haul water to the ranch until the city water became available a few years later. They built a second floor and kitchen on to the old ranch house.

In winter, Sharon would stuff rags and sacks into the cracks between the wall and floor to keep the cold and snow out. The roads would get so bad at times that she had to use their tractor and trailer to get the kids to their bus stop a mile from the house. They moved into town "temporarily" until they could build a new house - about 30 years ago.

Their son Marvin lives on the ranch now, in a newer home, with his family and runs it along side Jim and Sharon.

When asked about an autobiography, Jim says that won't happen because "it just ain't none of their business. Sharon's going to write a book after I'm gone. She can't do it before then 'cause I just flat won't let her". Sharon nods and smiles in agreement. ...