Mortensen, Dan

Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 2009

Dan Mortensen was born December 16, 1968 in Billings, Montana. His six saddle bronc riding world championships (1993-95, 1997-98 and 2003) tied the legendary Casey Tibbs for the event record. He also won the all-around world championship in 1997, edging fellow Hall of Fame inductee Joe Beaver. Mortensen qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 16 times, the first in 1990 when he was the PRCA Rookie of the Year. The only NFR he missed in his 17 full seasons as a PRCA member was in 2004 when he broke his ankle late in the season while leading the world standings. During his final world championship season of 2003, Mortensen became the first roughstock cowboy in PRCA history to surpass $2 million in career earnings; he finished his career with $2,555,716. Mortensen won virtually every major rodeo in North America, including multiple titles at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede. He won the NFR average title in 1994. A 17-foot bronze statue of Mortensen is the centerpiece of the Montana Wall of Champions outside Metra Arena in Billings. Sports Illustrated named him No. 2 on the list of Montana’s greatest sports figures of the 20th century. He formally retired from the sport in November 2008.

World Championships: 7

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003

All-Around: 1997

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994

Rookie of the Year:

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1990

RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion

All-Around: 1992

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994, 1997, 2003

RAM Circuit Year-End Champion

Montana Circuit:

All-Around: 1990, 1991

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

Bull Riding: 1991

Born: December 16, 1968 in Billings, Montana

Joined the PRCA: 1990

NFR Qualifications: 16

Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994 (tie)

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1998, 2006

Clovis Rodeo / Clovis, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1995 (tie), 1996 (tie)

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1995, 1998 (tie), 1999, 2006 (tie)

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1992, 1998

Dodge City Roundup / Dodge City, KS
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994, 1995, 2002

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, TX
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994, 2000 (tie), 2002 (tie)

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1992, 1995

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Saddle Bronc Riding: 2004

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo / Tucson, AZ
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1993, 1994 (tie), 1995, 2006 (tie)

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994, 1997, 2003

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1993, 1999

Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1994, 1996

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
Saddle Bronc Riding: 2002, 2003 (tie)

Rowell Ranch Rodeo / Hayward, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 2000, 2001 (tie)

Snake River Stampede / Nampa, ID
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1990, 2001, 2006