Introduction
Clay Carr (17 April 1909 – April 1957) was an American rodeo cowboy who competed in the 1930s and 1940s. He traveled widely during his rodeo career, competing also in Australia and England.
Early life
Clay Carr was born on April 17, 1909, in Farmersville, California.
Raised on a cattle ranch, Carr learned to ride horses when he was just four. He continued to hone his rodeo skills in his youth.
Career
Carr lived in Visalia, California, throughout his career. In 1928 he won the saddle bronc riding and in 1929, the steer decorating event.
In 1930, aged 21, he claimed the Rodeo Association of America All-Around Cowboy championship, and was the winner of two season discipline championships, in the saddle bronc and steer roping categories. The three victories in one season gave Carr a Triple Crown, the first-ever achieved in rodeo.
Carr's second All-Around Cowboy title came in 1933. In 1937, he won the tie-down roping, in 1938, the steer wrestling, and in 1939, the steer roping. He had back to back wins in the team roping with Vern Castro in 1949 and 1950.
Carr was also a three-time champion of the California Rodeo.
Legacy
Carr was inducted into The ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. In a May 1994 article, Susan Davis of Sports Illustrated referred to him as "the Babe Ruth of rodeo riders."
In 2016, Carr was inducted into the California Rodeo Salinas Hall of Fame.
Death
Carr died in April 1957 in Visalia, California, at the age of 47. Upon his death, the citizens of his hometown voted him the all-time greatest athlete of that area.
Trivia
Carr was once bitten on the leg by a rattlesnake while riding a horse and required a week of medical treatment to recover.