Jim Espy
Calf & Team Roper
“Big Jim”
1910-2001
Jim was born on May 26, 1910, at Fort Davis, Texas. Better known as "Big Jim", Espy was a well-known face at the West of the Pecos Rodeo for many years.
Espy first began competing at Pecos in the late 1930s in both calf roping and team roping. Some of the men he competed against in calf roping were Walton Poage (2008 TRHoF Inductee), Lefty Wilkins, Zeno Farris, and Buddy Neal (2010 TRHoF Inductee). He won more than he lost. Jim and his brother, Clay participated in many matched team ropings at Pecos.
Espy recalls Jim and Johnny Fitzgerald winning the team tying in 1949. Jim also recalls winning a 20-head-matched calf roping against Preston Fowlkes. They roped all 20 with a short break to re-pen the calves. His best roping horse was probably "Major".
After Espy stopped competing, he continued to support the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Many times during the rodeo, if he could not ride with family to a performance, he would drive himself.
James married Pansy Gillett and they had four children, Patsy Lou Smith of Hobbs, New Mexico, Lola Jean Everett of Fort Stockton, Robby Ann Duncan of Dallas, and James Pruett, Jr. of Fort Davis. James Pruett Espy, Sr. passed away on October 29, 2001, in Alpine, Texas and he was posthumously inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame. All of his 91 years were spent as a cowboy.