Larry Mahan interview for the Rodeo Historical Society Oral History Project

Larry Mahan interview by Gail Woerner for the Rodeo Historical Society Oral History Project
Recorded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Born in 1943 on a farm near Salem, Oregon, Larry Mahan is the 1966-1970 and 1973 All-Around Champion as well as the 1965 and 1967 Bull Riding Champion. Always a rough stock rider, he earned more than a half-million dollars in a professional career spanning sixteen years. Called the "cowboy in the gray flannel suit" by "Time" magazine, Larry Mahan was among the first professional hands to fly his own plane, conduct rodeo training schools, and hand out business cards on the circuit. After retiring from the arena in 1977, Larry Mahan began a successful business career. This hour-long interview was conducted in Oklahoma City at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The hour-long interview is available for viewing at the Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Please visit the following websites:
Rodeo Historical Society Oral History Project:
http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/research/cms/Projects/RodeoHistoricalSoci...

Dickinson Research Center website:
http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/research/

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum website:
http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

video: Adobe flash file, reduced bit-rate.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Larry
• Mahan
• Rodeo
• Historical
• Society
• Oral
• History
• National
• Cowboy
• Museum
• Dickinson
• Research
• Center
• Bull
• Riding
• interview
• Oklahoma
• City

[hayseed1957]

One of the heros of my youth. Thanks so much for posting this, I watched it twice.

[Startmycolt]

Sterling is still kicking, pretty stoved up but he sure got alot of us going. Larry was one of the best, Interesting how many passed through Sterlings life, even old Hawkey.

[Glenda5257]

Hi , My name is Glenda , and I grew up on a Cattle Ranch in Ellensburg Wash.

Guess who the across the road neighbor was ? Yep > Larry Mahan.

I met him when he was 23.

True American Cowboy.

(Never a Hippy Cowboy*)

[Glenda5257]

Hi , My name is Glenda , and I grew up on a Huge Cattle Ranch in Ellensburg Washington in the 1960's , and GUESS WHO was Our across the Road Neighbor ?

If you say > Larry Mahan , you'd be right.

You should have seen him when he was a young pup back in the 60's.

He use to come over across the road and use my horse anytime one of his Calves would run the fence and come in with our's.

[cindyshealed]

Very interesting. Larry was one of the hippie cowboys I liked. Not a redneck. In the 60s & 70s, rodeo cowboys, particularly in the bucking events, were really individuals, with loud colored chaps and clothing, jewelry sometimes, a bit of hair, a bit like rock stars and completely devoted athletes, every month of the year. To see Larry now, a few years older than my dad lived to be (he was 63 20 yrs ago when he died) is interesting.

[rodeodude202]

larry is older looking then i thought but will always be one of my heroes