JR was born in Lumberton North Carolina and lived on a farm with pigs, dogs, goats and horses. It was on the farm that he grew to love horses. At the age of seven, while riding home from town on a horse and wagon with his brother, his horse kicked back and hit JR in the leg. The kicking horse gravely injured JR and he still bears a scar from the horse’s impact. Instead of developing a fear of horses, he developed a curiosity and love for them. His unpleasant experience only made him want to know more about horses. JR now owns thirteen horses, one of which is a winning racehorse. He got involved with the Federation of Black Cowboys to pass on the legacy and the history of Black Cowboys to younger generations, to share ideas about training horses with fellow cowboys and to be part of positive community activities.