🤠This Week in the West
🎙️ Episode 46: The Legendary Record-Breaking Career of Bull Rider Don Gay

📢 Episode Summary:
In this episode, we pay tribute to rodeo legend Don Gay, whose name surfaced repeatedly when fans were asked to name the greatest bull rider of all time. We take listeners through Gay’s extraordinary life and record-breaking career, timed with Gay’s birthday week, September 18. Born into a rodeo family in Mesquite, Texas, Don’s journey began early under the guidance of his father Neal Gay, himself a rodeo pioneer being inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame this year.

Don Gay’s career was marked by unmatched dominance in professional bull riding. After joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association as a teenager, Don quickly rose to prominence, earning eight world championships between 1974 and 1984—a record that still stands. His legendary 97-point ride on the bull Oscar, and his performance in the only sudden-death ride-off in National Finals Rodeo history, cemented his place in rodeo lore. He was known not only for his skill but also for his work ethic, even flying himself to rodeos to maximize his competitive schedule.

Though he retired from riding in 1989, Don Gay remained a vital figure in the rodeo world through business, broadcasting, and promoting the sport. He founded the Don Gay Bull Riding Tour and became a beloved commentator on networks like ESPN and The Cowboy Channel. His lifetime of contributions has been recognized by multiple halls of fame. The episode closes with one of Don’s favorite reflections—reminding listeners that the “bumps” in life are often what keep us riding forward.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• Why Don Gay is considered one of the greatest bull riders in history, with a record-setting eight world championships.
  
• How his early life and family background shaped his path into the rodeo world.
  
• Don Gay’s lasting influence on the sport through commentary, entrepreneurship, and legacy-building after retirement.

👥 Behind the Scenes
Host: Seth Spillman
Producer: Chase Spivey
Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

• Interview on Dale Brisby’s podcast: https://youtu.be/QgJjXgBriEg?si=MlZebMkxJ6Ajhv2D
• Cowboy Life’s video story on Don Gay’s career: https://youtu.be/yXi9cQdzx8o?si=hO_qnk0moNmkWvDA
• Spotlight article by the Choctaw Nation: https://togetherweremore.com/competitors/don-gay/

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