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).
Accolades
Biography
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
Rodeo Championships
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
