What did Larry Mahan do?

Larry Mahan, one of the best cowboys in ProRodeo history, died at the age of 79 on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Mahan, arguably the greatest rodeo superstar in history, was the all-around world champion in 1966-70 and 1973.

In 1965 and 1967, he was also the bull riding champion.

From 1964 to 1975, he qualified for the NFR 26 times in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding.

The Great American Cowboy, a documentary about his 1973 comeback and competition with Phil Lyne, received the Oscar Award for Documentary Feature in 1974.

In 1979, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Mahan won six all-around titles, the last of which was not consecutive. His five consecutive all-around titles were not broken until 1979, when Tom Ferguson won his sixth consecutive title.

Following his career, which lasted from 1964 to 1975, Mahan was one of the first inductees into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.

Among many others, Mahan is a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame, and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Outside of the ring, Mahan achieved success in the western wear industry with boot and hat collections, as well as recording a country album with Warner Brothers.

His “Larry Mahan” brand of western clothing established him as a cowboy fashion trend setter.

Mahan was also one of the first professional hands to fly his own plane, run rodeo training schools, and distribute business cards on the circuit.