ProRodeo Hall of Famer Mahan Receives Honor

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – ProRodeo Hall of Fame cowboy Larry Mahan added another honor to his ever-impressive resume.

Mahan was selected as the Outstanding American award from the state of Oregon by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Oregon Chapter.

Mahan, who wrestled at Redmond (Ore.) High School, will be recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Oregon Chapter 23rd annual Honors Banquet, April 22 at the Embassy Suites Portland Washington Square in Tigard, Ore.

“Larry is absolutely worthy of receiving this honor,” said Dr. Dale Burt Johnston, a board member on the Oregon Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “He is one of the greatest of all time in the sport of rodeo and because he has a wrestling tie I think it makes him a good qualified candidate for the Outstanding American award.”

Mahan was enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. He was born Nov. 21, 1943, in Salem, Ore. He went on to a legendary rodeo career, winning eight world championships (all-around, 1966-70, 1973; bull riding, 1965, 1967). He was named the Legend of ProRodeo in 2010.

Maturity, both as a contestant and as an individual, saw Mahan overcome his natural shyness to become the best living advertisement in the history of professional rodeo: personable and articulate, with a recognizable, respected and identifiable name.

Mahan definitely isn’t the only cowboy to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Oregon Chapter.

Most recently, in 2015 steer wrestler Trevor Knowles of Mount Vernon, Ore., a 13-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, was given the Outstanding American award by the Oregon Chapter.

Courtesy of PRCA