Benny Reynolds

Benny Reynolds (March 5, 1936 – February 14, 2014) was an American rodeo champion. Born in Twin Bridges, Montana,[1] he was of English descent. Both his mother and father rode saddle broncs and his brothers also competed in rodeo.

Reynolds entered his first rodeo in Butte, Montana at age 6, where he rode one calf and was bucked-off another. Reynolds was about 15 years old when he seriously began competing in rodeos. Improvement came with practice on his father’s team of work horses—using them for both bareback and saddle bronc stock. That practice paid off when Reynolds went professional and joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association (now the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) in 1956. He went on to win 1958 RCA Rookie of the Year Award,[2] competing in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding and steer wrestling.

Reynolds was a guest contestant on the CBS-TV quiz show, Name That Tune in the late 1950s. While endorsing Wrangler Jeans and Tony Lama Boots, print advertising featuring Reynolds appeared regularly in such publications as Rodeo Sports News and The Western Horseman.

His most successful year in rodeo was 1961, when he won the World Champion All Around Cowboy title,[3] $31,309, a saddle, a silver buckle, silver spurs and a life-sized fiberglass horse. He went on to win the 1966 Linderman Award,[3] given to the contestant earning the most money in a combination of three or more rough stock and timed events.[4][5]

In 1993, Reynolds was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado for his accomplishments in All Around multiple rodeo event competition. In 1996, he was inducted into the National Senior Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame.[3] In later life he ranched and put up fencing in the mountains.

Reynolds died of a heart attack on February 14, 2014 at his ranch in Dillon, Montana. He was 77.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Perry, Ellis Roberts (2001). Montana Dateline. Hartford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-56044-956-0.
  2. ↑ "Outdoor section". The Billboard. 70 (50). December 15, 1958. p. 89. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Senior Rodeo: Hall of Fame". National Senior Pro Rodeo Association. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
  4. ↑ "Past World Champions (1929-2005)". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  5. ↑ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Benny Reynolds". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ http://www.kxlf.com/news/world-champion-cowboy-benny-reynolds-passes-away/

External links

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