Jerry Diaz

A fourth-generation charro, Gerardo “Jerry” Diaz’s passion for the cowboy lifestyle goes back over 150 years to his great-grandfather in Mexico.

Jerry Diaz’s father was a pioneer in exemplifying the charro tradition in the United States. Jerry came from a hardworking family and always admired his father’s passion for being a cowboy and showcasing his culture. Having ridden horses his entire life, Jerry now performs across the country and has been recognized and awarded numerous honors for his work in the industry.

A few honors include being the first charro to perform at the Olympics through the American Quarter Horse Association; performing for seven world leaders at the G7 Summit in Houston, Texas; being a lifetime member and director of the National Western Stock Show, and an honorary chairman of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. He has also been inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame, the Texas Trail of Fame and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Jerry, his wife, Staci, and his son, Nicolas, all perform and work as a family, and they are well-respected performers in the rodeo industry and Western community.

Both Staci and Nicolas are also accomplished performers and competitors, and the family operates as a unit to educate and entertain rodeo fans everywhere they go. Photo
courtesy of the Diaz family.

Cowboy Traits

Faithful. Passionate. Gritty. 100% all in, all the time.

Outside of the arena, Jerry still educates and entertains people with what he is passionate about, whether it’s appearances, at their family ranch or traveling across the country. Photo courtesy of the Diaz family.

Definition of “Cowboy”

“I could go on and on, but to be a cowboy or a charro, it has to come from inside your soul first,” Jerry says. “You have to have a passion for it and love it because when it becomes work, it’s no longer the same. A cowboy is a man of family ethics, rooted in tradition and love, [with] a lot of heart and respect for his name. When he competes, he prides himself on consistency and becoming the best he can be in that competition circle. As a cowboy who doesn’t compete but comes from a tradition like me, he is proud to teach the legacy and history of the cowboy way of life. I’ve always gone by Charro de Corazon, Charro of the Heart, because I put my heart and soul into it all. If the next generation doesn’t hang on to those values, it’s gone. I think we are losing a lot of that old tradition of the cowboy.”

Following in his father’s footsteps, Nicolas is a fifth-generation charro. Photo courtesy of the Diaz family.

Jerry strives to always represent his heritage authentically, from the traditional clothing and tack to each performance. Photo courtesy of the Diaz family.

1 thought on “Jerry Diaz”

Jerry is My Son-in-Law, married to My Daughter Staci. Their Son Nicolas, is an up-and-coming Trainer/Performer. He has two of the Best teachers, both grew up in families that performed with Horses from the time they were born. We as a Family Love the Western performing lifestyle we live, with Honor to God and America the country that lets us do what we do Best. My Son Austin said it Best ” Lot of hard work for 5-10 Minutes of Glory, but well worth it!!” I don’t think anyone works any harder than Jerry Diaz to promote the Cowboy/Mexican Charro traditions. I’m proud to say, if anyone asks “Ya!!, I know that Guy.”