Tex Austin
John Van "Tex" Austin | |
|---|---|
Austin in 1924 | |
| Born | Clarence Van Nostrand August 26, 1885 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 1938 (aged 53) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Other names | King of the Rodeo Daddy of the Rodeo |
| Occupation | Rodeo promoter |
| Years active | 1918–1938 |
| Spouse | Mary Lou McGuire |
John Van "Tex" Austin (August 26, 1885 – 26 October 1938) was an American rodeo promoter, known as the "King of the Rodeo" or "Daddy of the Rodeo" because of his efforts to popularize the rodeo outside of its core American West demographic.
He owned the Forked Lightning Ranch in New Mexico. From 1925 to 1929, he was promoter, manager, and director of the Chicago Roundup.