Young, Olin

Steer Roping • Inducted 1979

Although he achieved great fame as a tie-down roper, Olin Young won two world titles in steer roping. A superb all-around athlete, Young approached everything he did with the skill and technique of a craftsman, even when he was building corrals. Most of Young’s competitors believe he would have won several more championships had he traveled more on ProRodeo’s steer roping circuit. Also, in 1971, Young became the first to win four aggregate titles in tie-down roping at the National Finals Rodeo, which has since been matched by Joe Beaver (1996), Roy Cooper (1999) and Fred Whitfield (2002). He was New Mexico’s Athlete of the Year in 1970. He was born Sept. 11, 1936, in Lovington, N.M.

World Championships: 2

Steer Roping: 1971, 1974

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

Steer Roping: 1967, 1974, 1977

Tie-Down Roping: 1959, 1962, 1963, 1971

Born: September 11, 1936 in Lovington, New Mexico

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
Tie-Down Roping: 1965

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, Wyoming
Steer Roping: 1966, 1974

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, Texas
Tie-Down Roping: 1964, 1971

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, California
Tie-Down Roping: 1958, 1963, 1971

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
Tie-Down Roping: 1968

Iowa’s Championship Rodeo / Sidney, IA
Tie-Down Roping: 1967

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, Colorado
Tie-Down Roping: 1967, 1971

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo / Ogden, UT
Tie-Down Roping: 1963, 1966

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, Oregon
All-Around: 1969
Tie-Down Roping: 1969

West of the Pecos Rodeo / Pecos, Texas
All-Around: 1977
Tie-Down Roping: 1977