"Ricardo Palacios gives us a vivid portrait of his uncle, Hall of Fame roper Juan Salinas, the first great Mexican cowboy to brush prejudices aside and follow the rodeo circuit in the 1930s and 1940s. He also provides a revealing study of a fading way of life in the mixed Hispanic-Anglo ranching community of deep South Texas. . . ." -Elmer Kelton, western novelist "Ricardo Palacios has not only provided a loving tribute to his famous uncle, Juan Salinas, but he has also defined two significant Texas cultures. Palacios gives us a glance at the raw, unvarnished life of the South Texas cowboy, a direct descendant of the vaquero. And he casts a fleeting light on those early professional ropers, almost a fraternal order, who made their money with good horses, gutsy one-on-one matches, and lots of bets on the side." -Art Chapman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram "[Palacios] captures the grit and independent spirit of his subject." -Jack Jackson, author, Indian Agent: Peter Ellis Bean in Mexican Texas "The author has captured 'the Mexican people of south Texas, ' and it is a window into the world that is quite refreshing and enlightening." -Sylvia Gann Mahoney, author, College Rodeo: From Show to Sport