07/29/2025
The Wilson3, Jeff, Amber, and Shiloh, were more than a rodeo family; they were a light to everyone they met along the way. Their love for the rodeo ran deep, but their love for one another ran even deeper. A few of our very own Bolivar Arena Association board members had the privilege of working alongside Jeff and Amber at the Humble Rodeo & BBQ Cook-Off, and wherever they were, sweet Shiloh was never far behind.
This is more than the loss of a family, itâs the loss of a bond that was truly unbreakable. The Wilsons were inseparable in life, and now, by Godâs grace, they are together for eternity in Heaven.
We honor their legacy, their love, and the lasting imprint theyâve left on our hearts and the rodeo world.
In the thunderous roar of the rodeo arena, where broncs bucked and crowds held their breath, 12-year-old Shiloh Wilsonâaffectionately dubbed âStingrayâ for his sharp, unstoppable spiritâcharged into the fray with a grin that lit up the Texas sky, a young cowboy whose passion and prowess made him a two-time champion before fateâs cruel floodwaters swept him away on July 4, 2025. But Shilohâs story isnât one of loss alone; itâs a blazing testament to a life lived with unbridled joy, deep faith, and a bond with his family that even the Guadalupe River couldnât fully sever.
Shiloh was a third-generation cowboy, born into a world of saddles, spurs, and the sweet thrill of victory, where rodeo wasnât just a hobby but the heartbeat of his days. From Kingwood, Texas, he followed in the bootsteps of his father, Jeff, a retired rodeo rider whose own career had been cut short by injury, but who poured his love into cheering Shiloh on from the sidelines. âI love you,â Shiloh would say to his dad before every ride, met with Jeffâs steady reply, âI love you back, sonââa ritual that captured their unbreakable connection. And there in the bleachers was his mother, Amber, her cheers echoing like a rallying cry, the glue that held the âWilson 3â together through every triumph and tumble. They were inseparable, this tight-knit trio, traveling to Kerrville for a youth rodeo at the Hill Country Youth Expo Center, where Shilohâs saddle bronc skills had already earned him world champ status and a reputation as a âlittle studâ with a God-given gift for the ride.
Beyond the arena, Shilohâs world brimmed with simple, heartfelt joys that painted him as mature beyond his yearsâtough yet tender, spirited yet grounded. He loved music that made his toes tap, movies that sparked adventure in his imagination, and holidays spent laughing with family, but nothing compared to the quiet moments of togetherness that defined the Wilsons. Faith was his anchor; rescuers found his rodeo trunk miles from the flood-ravaged campsite, and inside, amid the gear of a champion, were two Bibles he carried everywhereâa symbol of the young boyâs profound spirituality and the values that guided him. Even their little Chihuahua, Shelby, was part of this loving circle, now left behind but safe, missing her playful companion who brought boundless enthusiasm to every day.
As the beloved son of Jeff, a dedicated Humble ISD teacher who inspired generations, and Amber, the sweetest soul whose warmth touched everyone she met, Shiloh was the light that amplified their familyâs glow. He left an imprint on his Kingwood community, where hundreds lined the streets for his procession home, cowboy hats in hand, honoring the boy whose rides had thrilled them and whose kindness had won them over. The floods may have taken Shiloh and his parents too soon, carving a deep ache in the hearts of grandparents, siblings, friends, and fellow rodeo riders, but his legacy endures like a championâs buckleâshining with faith, family love, and the fearless pursuit of what set his soul on fire.
In the quiet after the storm, we feel Shilohâs spirit urging us onward: to cheer a little louder, hug a little tighter, and ride lifeâs broncs with the same bold heart he did. He wasnât just a rodeo star; he was a beacon of what it means to live fully, faithfully, and forever young.
