Johnny Hutchinson Clements

Johnny (John) H. Clements,

March 20, 1934 - January 22, 2026

Johnny (John) H. Clements, 91, of Gotebo, OK, passed away on January 22, 2026, after a brief illness. As the story goes, he was born on March 20, 1934, in the back of a horse-drawn wagon near Montrose, Colorado, to John (Jack) B. and Inez R. Clements-a fitting start for a man whose life would be defined by the horses that carried him across the country and around the globe.

Horses and horsemanship remained the central pillars of John's life. His career spanned the full spectrum of the sport, from riding races as a jockey to training a horse that competed in the prestigious All-American Futurity in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

In the early 1950s, John was drafted into the U.S. Army. He excelled in the service, attaining the rank of Corporal as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Germany. Though he thrived in the Army, John's heart remained on the ground-specifically, in the saddle. After a stint as a power line worker, his father, Jack, delivered the advice that defined John's future: "I would rather see you starving training three broken-down horses than wasting your life working for someone else." John never looked back.

He took those words to heart, working California ranches and training racehorses while spending his weekends on the rodeo circuit. He was a formidable competitor, a multi-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier, and the Western Alliance of Rodeos Saddle-Bronc Champion for four years. Recognized as the "defending saddle bronc king," he was also an accomplished bareback and bull rider. Never one to back down from a challenge, he took up steer wrestling simply because he was told he was "too small" to do well at it. His passion eventually took him as far as Australia, where he transported a California horse to race and compete in local rodeos.

After retiring from rodeo, John transitioned to training racehorses full-time. In the racing community, he was the "go-to" man for young horses. His winters in Sacramento were spent with quiet patience, breaking colts and turning raw potential into equine athletes. Beyond his own success in racing, his most impactful legacy was his dedication to teaching the next generation. He didn't just train horses; he mentored the people who rode them, leaving an indelible mark on the California Fair circuit. Under his mentorship, many young people learned not just to ride, but to excel-some becoming professional jockeys and others successful rodeo athletes.

Throughout his long life, John left behind a trail of countless dear friends across the rodeo circuit and the many racetrack kitchens he called home; his "horse family" was as much a part of his story as the horses themselves.

John is survived by Joyce A. Clements and Elayne C. Markus, who remember the adventurous years they shared with him. He is also survived by his children, Johnny Bob, Lenore (Sis), and James; his stepson, Aaron Whitfield; and a vast legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren-especially his youngest descendant, Rowan, with whom he shared a particularly close and cherished bond.

This Spring, his family will gather to hold a private celebration of life, where he will be laid to rest. John lived a life of independence, grit, and dusty trails. This is his story as we remember it, and as Mark Twain would say... "Nothing spoils a good story like the arrival of an eyewitness."