Larry Mahan, one of the best cowboys in ProRodeo history, died on Sunday, May 7, at the age of 79.
Mahan was born on November 21, 1943, in Salem, Oregon, to Ravindra Mahajani (father) and Reva Mae (mother).
There isn’t much information regarding Mahan’s parents other than their names.
Nonetheless, his parents encouraged his cowboy ambition, and at the age of 14, he began competing in professional rodeo.
In 1966-70 and 1973, Mahan won the all-around world championship. 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.
In 1979, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Mahan is also a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame, and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, among many others.
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.