Larry Mahan

All-Around • Inducted 1979

His records might not stand anymore, but Larry Mahan, born Nov. 21, 1943, in Salem, Ore., definitely will go into rodeo’s history books as one of the greatest cowboys of all time. Only 14 years old when he broke into professional rodeo, Mahan developed an individual talent for all three riding events – each requiring entirely different styles and skills – that has been matched by just a few in rodeo history. He used those skills to capture five consecutive world all-around titles from 1966-70, a record that was matched nearly a decade later by Tom Ferguson but not surpassed until 1994 by Ty Murray. Mahan, who claimed world bull riding titles in the 1960s, came back to take a then-record sixth world all-around title in 1973, another mark broken by Murray in 1998. Maturity, both as a contestant and as an individual, saw Mahan overcome his natural shyness to become the best living advertisement in the history of professional rodeo: personable and articulate, with a recognizable, respected and identifiable name.

World Championships: 8

All-Around: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973

Bull Riding: 1965, 1967

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

All-Around: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1967

Legend of ProRodeo 

2010

Born: November 21, 1943 in Salem, Oregon

Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1970

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
All-Around: 1966

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1968
Bull Riding: 1970

Clovis Rodeo / Clovis, CA
Bull Riding: 1972 (tie)

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
All-Around: 1970, 1975

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
All-Around: 1966, 1968
Bareback Riding: 1968 (tie)
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1966

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
All-Around: 1967, 1970
Bareback Riding: 1974 (tie)
Bull Riding: 1967

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, TX
All-Around: 1969
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1969
Bull Riding: 1967

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
All-Around: 1966
Bareback Riding: 1972
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1969, 1970 (tie)

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
All-Around: 1966
Bareback Riding: 1966
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1966

Iowa’s Championship Rodeo / Sidney, IA
All-Around: 1966, 1969
Bareback Riding: 1966

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
All-Around: 1967
Bareback Riding: 1975
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1967

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo / Ogden, UT
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1975

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
All-Around: 1967
Bareback Riding: 1966, 1969
Bull Riding: 1967, 1969
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1968

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Bareback Riding: 1967

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
All-Around: 1971
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1973
Bull Riding: 1965 (tie)

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
All-Around: 1967
Bareback Riding: 1967

Snake River Stampede / Nampa, ID
All-Around: 1966, 1969
Bareback Riding: 1966

World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
All-Around: 1973
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1979
Bull Riding: 1977 (tie)