John Boyd III
(Submitted by Clarina Arviso Boyd)
Courtesy of
AIRCArodeo.com
Born one early dawn misty morning in March 1983, John
Boyd III was a 6lb, 10 oz baby boy, alert, lean with long legs, arms & fingers at birth. He was born at the Gallup Indian
Medical Center, Gallup, NM. March 24th marked a new generation for the Boyd family of Greasewood Springs, Arizona.
The family named our newborn after his father and grandfather for being the first grandson and for the legacy of carrying
on the name in the third generation of rodeo and other positive endeavors. John has BIG boots to fill – his dad’s
and his paternal grandpa’s – both avid ropers for many years. His father is a fierce competitor in the tie down
roping, team roping, and steer wrestling events; a timed event contractor/trainer; a quality rodeo producer; and top notch
association leader. His grandpa was a calf roper, team roper, stock contractor and a supporter of youth rodeos on and off
the Navajo Nation. Also known as “Three, Tres or Johnnie-baby”, John’s clans are: Honaghanni (One who walks
around you) born for Tsenah habilni (Sleepy rock people), Maternal grandpa - Todachiinii (Bitterwater clan), Paternal grandpa
– Kinlichiinii (redhouse clan). His maternal grandma is from Hunters Point, AZ, and paternal grandma was from Standing
Rock, NM.
Three refused to go to preschool – he wanted
to rope, ride horses and be near his dad and grandpa. He was always with his Nali (grandpa) John Boyd, Sr. Three was
the right hand man to Grandpa John until his Nali passed away. It was traumatic but three focused on his grandpa’s
teachings. Three is always at the stables with the horses and cattle even to this day.
Three participated in sports in elementary through
high school: basketball, football, and he individually represented the Ganado High Rodeo Team under the New Mexico region.
Three & Donnie Barney competed in the Silver State Finals in Fallon, Nevada. The duo came home as a Reserve Champion
Team in team roping. Three participated in some junior rodeos (IJRA) but he wanted to play with the big boys.
Accomplishments:
2000 - USTRC (Walt Eddy’s roping) Red Rock Classic winner in the # 7 roping
with Duane Robbins. He won this roping when he was 17 years old then USTRC upped his number.
Dine’ College Rodeo team for three years – on his own (no advisor/coach)
with Kyle Reed and made it all three years to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Regional Finals Rodeo.
2003-04 Reserve Tie Down Roping Champion at NIRA Regional
Finals Rodeo. Attended Dine’ college majoring in Liberal Arts. He graduated.
2002-03 Navajo Nation Rodeo Cowboys Association (NNRCA)
card holder – Year End Rookie of the Year earning buckles in Tie Down Roping and Team roping and received the Jake Antone
Memorial Award for being the All Around Rookie of the Year.
2003 INFR Qualifier -Reserve champion in Tie Down
Roping for NNRCA
2002-03 South West Indian Rodeo Association (SWIRA)
card holder
2002-03 Permit holder for Professional Rodeo Cowboys
Association (PRCA) – Turquoise Circuit. Paid his dues and filled his permit before the first year ended.
2004-05 Regular card holder for PRCA and was a top
contender for the Rookie of the Year in Team roping & Tie Down roping.
2004-05 card holders for USTRC, NIRA, PRCA, AIRCA,
SWIRA, NNRCA & CNRA.
2005: Indian International Finals Rodeo (IIFR)
World Champion All Around Cowboy and IIFR World Tie Down Roping Champion.
Has also won numerous All Around Championships in
various rodeos in the Southwestern USA.
His little brother Lancey Boyd is watching Three’s
every move.
Three is quiet, very observant, well-mannered,
sensitive, and creative and speaks only when spoken to. He is also helpful, is a friend to everyone and a positive role model
to his peers and the younger generation. He provides consultant services to schools, clubs or to individuals on horsemanship,
riding/roping lessons while demonstrating his style of roping, horse training in seminars for youth upon request.
