Biography
As a third generation Arizonan, Liles family is a great representation of the Western Way of Life. He started attending rodeos as a young boy, working the rough stock events as well as a few timed events. This gave him the education and background to put his experiences into art and other ventures. In 1978, he helped found the Gilbert Rodeo and managed for 10 years. In 2007, he invented the Bucking Chute Safety Pad and founded Lazy J Rodeo Safety Equipment which furnishes equipment around the world. In 2021, Liles was inducted as an honoree into the All Cowboys & Arena Champions Hall of Fame and received the National Day of the Cowboys Annual Cowboy Keepers Award. He has the largest collection of vintage rodeo bareback riggings and other rodeo equipment in the country, which is now part of the National Bareback Riding Hall of Fame and Museum. His bronzes are efforts to memorialize some of the iconic rodeo equipment, going back to 1911.
