Mayo, Paul

Bareback Riding • Inducted 2010

Paul Mayo, along with his brothers, Don and Bob, and Jim Houston, is credited with altering the style of bareback riding in the 1960s, taking a position farther back on the horse, and literally lying down on the horse’s back as it went over the peak of its jump, began its descent and kicked up its hind legs. Mayo, of Sutherland Springs, Texas, became so expert at the technique – called the Mayo Style and still in use today – that he won gold buckles in 1966 and 1970 and was the reserve world champion three times (1965, 1967 and 1971), losing the 1965 title to Houston by just $641. A talented all-around hand, Mayo also qualified twice for the NFR in bull riding, rode saddle broncs and roped steers a few times. He competed in the NFR 12 times overall. He twice finished among the top three in the world all-around standings and won the Linderman Award for all-around excellence at both ends of the arena in 1968.

World Championships: 2

Bareback Riding: 1966, 1970

Linderman Award

1968

RAM Circuit Year-End Champion

Texas Circuit:

Bareback Riding: 1979

Born: April 8, 1942 in Grinnell, Iowa
Died: January 24, 2021 in Stephenville, Texas

NFR Qualifications: 12

Black Hills Roundup / Belle Fourche, SD
Bareback Riding: 1963

Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
All-Around: 1977
Bareback Riding: 1969

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
All-Around: 1969
Bareback Riding: 1969

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
All-Around: 1969
Bareback Riding: 1969 (tie)

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
Bareback Riding: 1968 (tie), 1975

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
All-Around: 1970
Bareback Riding: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1970
Bull Riding: 1970

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
All-Around: 1966
Bareback Riding: 1966

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Bareback Riding: 1967

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Bareback Riding: 1966, 1972 (tie)

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
All-Around: 1967

Iowa’s Championship Rodeo / Sidney, IA
All-Around: 1980, 1982
Bareback Riding: 1965, 1979 (tie), 1980, 1982

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
All-Around: 1971
Bareback Riding: 1971

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo / Ogden, UT
Bareback Riding: 1970, 1971 (tie)

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
All-Around: 1965
Bull Riding: 1965 (tie), 1968

Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Bull Riding: 1965

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Bareback Riding: 1972

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
Bareback Riding: 1969, 1970 (tie)

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Bareback Riding: 1963

World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
Bareback Riding: 1969 (tie), 1970