When does a career begin? First try? First success? Specific age? Jim Sharp's career, probably unknowingly by him, began at about 9 years of age atop a scrawny steer in Pecos, Tx. in 1974 while competing in an American Junior Rodeo Association event.

Jim's father, James Sharp, was himself a calf roper and exposed Jim to "Rodeo Fever". Jim, nor James Sharp doubtfully had so much as a thought of Jim's bull riding future. Nevertheless, the seed was surely planted and the strong family nurturing and personal desire on Jim's part allowed the seed to not only sprout but grow as no one had imagined.

By the time Jim was 13 he was riding junior bulls in American Junior Rodeo Association [AJRA] rodeos; and by that time, his goals, perhaps dreams, of being a Pro Bull Rider were slowly yet methodically being cemented into their rightful place in reality. With every competition Jim knew his dreams and goals were to be attained. With desire and true dedication, those dreams and goals would be met far sooner than anyone could have, or did, imagine.

Jim was AJRA reserve steer riding champion in the 12 and under class in 1978 and soon thereafter Champion Bull Rider at the AJRA National Finals in the 13-15 age class.

At 16, Jim was competing in sanctioned high school rodeo events [National High School Rodeo Association - NHSRA] as well as the AJRA events, placing at the top or near the top in many of the competitions. By the end of Jim's high school years he had garnered AJRA Bull Riding Championships for 1981, 1983 and 1984. Jim was the Texas High School All-Around Champion for 1984 and was the only rider to ride 4 of 4 bulls at the Youth National Finals in Fort Worth in 1985.

Odessa College's Wrangler coach, Jim Watkins, "discovered" Jim and his riding abilities at AJRA events and successfully recruited Jim into the Odessa College Rodeo program. Perhaps Watkins saw something in Jim that Jim himself did not see; possibly a different type of maturity that comes from small town Texas upbringing or exposure to the realities of rodeoing had a maturing effect; because Jim's career matured beyond his age during his college days.

During Jim's college days, two consecutive NIRA [National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association] Championships came his way [1986 - '87].

Jim competed on a regular basis at Billy Bob's at the Stockyards in Fort Worth. The college years were also the beginnings of Jim's professional riding career; becoming Rookie of the year in 1986 in the PRCA [Pro Rodeo Cowboy's Association] and qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo.

1986 was certainly a "Break-Out" year for Jim, as he won the Bulls Eye Bull Riding Challenge,won the most money by a rookie, was named PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year and finished 4th overall in bull riding.

An injury plagued 1987 held Jim to a 5th place finish for that year but he followed up with his first PRCA Championship in 1988. Also in '88, Jim was the first to ride 10 consecutive bulls at the PRCA National Finals Rodeo. Finishing 2nd in bull riding in 1989, Jim rode to yet another PRCA Championship in 1990 and to a 4th and 2nd place finish in 1991 and 1992 [respectively].

Persistent injuries during the 1993 and 1994 season fairly well side-lined Jim. However, he made a limited comeback in 1995, riding in the Southwestern Livestock and exposition Show and Rodeo in Fort Worth, finishing 2nd in that event. Nevertheless, the nagging, slow healing injuries continued to take its toll on Jim's carreer: Finishing 7^th in 1996 and in the top 15 in 1997. 1998 was not a good year at all as Jim finished 48^th overall in the Bud Light Cup Series and spent the majority of the year with yet another injury. This time, a dislocated shoulder was the culprit.

Finishing 7^th in the Bud Light Cup standings for 1999, Jim felt his riding carreer was back on track. He finished third in two events, won the event at the Copenhagen Tough Co. event Poplar Bluff, Missouri and rode four of five bulls at the World Championship event.

The 2000 Bud Light Cup season ended for Jim with 4,013 in Bud Light Cup points and earnings of $74,856 plus solid top five (2nd, 3rd and 5^th) finishes in three major events and a championship at the Copenhagen Tough Co. event in Lufkin, Texas. For 2001, Jim rode to an 11^th place ranking and more than $122,000.00 in total winnings.

The 2002 season was very good for Jim. He has had very strong showings at many events, including his namesake event in Odessa, Texas. Jim also garnered the Event Championship at the Tuff Hedeman Championship Challenge in Ft. Worth, Tx. as well as BULLNANZA in Guthrie, Ok., Jerome Davis Challenge and the Portland Open.

So far the 2003 season has a tough ride for Jim. A fifth place finish at the BFTS Tampa Bay Open in Tampa, a Second place finish at the Saint Louis and an eighth place finish with nagging injuries at the Tuff Hedeman Challenge in Fort Worth. Nonetheless, Jim will Cowboy Up in Colorado Springs with hopes of the remainder of the season being much better and injury free.