Wood, Marty

Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1991

Marty Wood, who began his rodeo career as a bareback rider and bull rider, made his mark in ProRodeo in saddle bronc riding. During his career, he won three world titles, three Canadian Professional Rodeo Association championships and the aggregate crown at every major rodeo in the United States. In 1974, he was saddle bronc riding’s biggest money winner.

Born June 4, 1933, in Bowness, Alberta, Wood’s first love was baseball. Although an early ankle injury took baseball out of the picture, it had no effect on his ability in rodeo.

He was known for his colorful style, which also included incredible balance and ability to anticipate the horses’ moves. Speculation is these two key skills were developed when he rode the jumping horses his father raised and trained.

The USA’s first glimpse of this talented rider was in 1953 when, as an amateur, he won saddle bronc riding and most of the day money in Omaha (Neb).

World Championships: 3

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1958, 1964, 1966

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1966

Born: June 4, 1933 in Bowness, Alberta
Died: August 10, 2019 in Pendleton, Oregan

Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1965, 1969

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1958, , 1961, 1966, 1967

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1974

Clovis Rodeo / Clovis, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1957, 1958, 1961 (tie), 1965, 1967

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1969, 1972 (tie)

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1960, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1972

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1957, 1958, 1967

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, TX
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1957, 1966

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1956

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1972

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1964

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo / Ogden, UT
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1964, 1966

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1961, 1971

Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1962, 1963, 1970

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1958

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1958, 1960, 1964

Rowell Ranch Rodeo / Hayward, CA
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1969

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1958, 1968

Snake River Stampede / Nampa, ID
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1958

World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1970