Introduction
Larry Mahan (b. November 21, 1943in Salem, Oregon) is an American former rodeo champion. He is of Irish descent.
Rodeo career
Mahan broke into professional rodeo at the age of 14. He won the title of World All-Around Rodeo Champion for five consecutive years from 1966 to 1970, and a sixth time in 1973. His 1973 comeback and competition with Phil Lyne was the subject of the documentary The Great American Cowboy, which won the 1973 Academy Award for Documentary Feature.
His consecutive all-around record was not surpassed until 1994 by Ty Murray, and his six total all-around victory was not surpassed until 1998, also by Murray. Mahan was also the World Bull Riding Champion in 1965 and 1967.
Rodeo Honors
1966 - Inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Rodeo Hall of Fame.
1979 - Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame
1985 - Inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
2007 - Inducted into The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
2010 - Recipient of the PRCA Legend of ProRodeo.
2015 - Inducted into the Class of 2015 Bull Riders Hall of Fame
After rodeo
Western Wear Entrepreneur
After he retired from rodeo, he established the Larry Mahan Collection, a line of western wear. The line became available from the Milano Hat Company and Cavenders.
Songs / Singer / Songwriting
Larry Mahan is one of the title characters in the song Ramblin' Jack and Mahan by Guy Clark.
In 1976, he released an album on Warner Brothers (BS 2959) entitled Larry Mahan, King of the Rodeo. The songs on the album are:
- Freckled Face and Pretty Ribbons
- There's More to a Cowboy
- Stunt Man
- King of the Rodeo
- Larry's Salty Dog Blues
- Mom's Silver Dollar Saloon
- Up Jumped the Devil
- Rosie's Palace of Pure Love and Fingertip Massage
- Smokey Mountain Cowboy
- Ha Ha
Movies
In 1972, Mahan had a small part in the Cliff Robertson movie, J.W. Coop. In 1975, he appeared in Six Pack Annie. In the 2007 movie No Country for Old Men, Josh Brolin's character buys and wears a pair of "Larrys".
TV Host
Larry Mahan host of RFD TV's Equestrian Nation.