Harley May

Steer Wrestling • Inducted 1979

Harley May, born June 2, 1926, in Deming, N.M., won the world steer wrestling championship title in 1952, his first year in the Rodeo Cowboys Association. He won a total of three world crowns, and 26 years after his first one, he was still a top qualifier. May, who grew up with rodeo, competed in youth events when he was only 11 years old. One of the first college-educated rodeo champions, he was on the intercollegiate championship teams in 1949-51 while a student at Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas.  He was a founder of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Also, May held various offices in the RCA: steer wrestling director, 1953-55; vice president, 1956; and president, 1957-59.

World Championships: 3

Steer Wrestling: 1952, 1956, 1965

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

All-Around: 1962
Steer Wrestling: 1960

Born: June 2, 1926 in Deming, New Mexico
Died: October 28, 2008 in Santa Anna, California

Joined the RCA: 1952

RCA President: 1958-59, 1961

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
All-Around: 1956, 1965
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1955, 1956
Steer Wrestling: 1965, 1970, 1972

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
Steer Wrestling: 1954, 1965

Clovis Rodeo / Clovis, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1959 (tie)
Steer Wrestling: 1958

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
Steer Wrestling: 1956

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
All-Around: 1961
Steer Wrestling: 1961

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo / Tucson, AZ
Bareback Riding: 1962

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
Steer Wrestling: 1952, 1961

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo / Ogden, UT
Steer Wrestling: 1959

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
Steer Roping: 1961
Steer Wrestling: 1962

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Steer Wrestling: 1955

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
All-Around: 1955
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1959
Steer Wrestling: 1955

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Steer Wrestling: 1956