Donny gay bull rider
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Despite financial hardships, Don remembers a happy childhood filled with purpose and ambition.
“My brothers and I didn’t ever know we were broke…We were living the life of a cowboy,” said Don.
As a young boy, Don watched rodeo greats perform and longed to be among them. His legacy continues to motivate and inspire bull riders of all levels to this day.
Retirement and Continued Involvement in the Sport
After retiring from competitive bull riding, Don Gay did not fade into obscurity.
His consistency and determination set him apart from his competitors and earned him the respect of the rodeo community.
Challenges Faced in the Sport
Despite his success, Don Gay faced numerous challenges in the sport of bull riding. He became a key figure in rodeo media, sharing his knowledge as a color commentator and working with Frontier Rodeo Company, a 10-time Stock Contractor of the Year.
Many current riders credit him as a major inspiration in their own careers, citing his fearlessness, skill, and dedication as qualities they strive to emulate. Join us as we explore the highs and lows of his career, and discover the true grit and determination that made him a champion in the world of rodeo.
Early Life and Introduction to Bull Riding
Don Gay was born on September 18, 1953, in Mesquite, Texas.
Gay, born Sept. I was going to ride bulls for a living.”
“I was going to be the world champion bull rider, and all I had to do was get through school and give my daddy the diploma,” said Don.
By age 16, Don had made enough winnings to earn his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) card in 1970.
Through this role, Don continued to promote the sport he loved, participating in youth camps, educational events, and community outreach—always striving to keep rodeo’s heritage alive.
He also maintained a deep bond with the professional rodeo community. Gay holds the record for the third highest marked ride in the history of professional rodeo, earning 97 points on the famous RSC bull Oscar at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in 1977.
Instead, he continued to be heavily involved in the sport, serving as a commentator for bull riding events and sharing his expertise with the next generation of riders. In addition to his championship wins, Don Gay has been inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a true legend in the sport.
The following year, he won his first World Champion Bull Rider title. He holds the record for the most world championships won by a bull rider, with eight titles to his name. If you get broke, get a job.” And that was the first day of Don’s career as a full-time rodeo cowboy.
In 1972, Don made his first appearance at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), finishing third overall.
As a seven-time world champion bull rider, he set the standard for excellence in the sport. Don Gay’s continued involvement in bull riding has helped to ensure the sport’s continued growth and popularity.
Honors and Awards Received
Throughout his illustrious career, Don Gay received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the sport of bull riding.
Don was told that until he could consistently ride two specific bulls—one that turned left, the other right—he couldn’t enter competitions. His legacy lives on in the hearts of fans and fellow riders alike, serving as an inspiration to never back down from a challenge. His close friendship with fellow bull rider Lane Frost and the pain of Lane’s tragic death in 1989 left a lasting impact.
Born into a cowboy family in 1953, Don grew up surrounded by the grit, passion, and perseverance that define the rodeo lifestyle. In 2011, the Hall was moved to its current home in the Cowtown Coliseum, located in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1973, he narrowly missed his first world title, which only fueled his ambition.
Despite being limited by school commitments, he found time to travel across states, sometimes making extremely long drives to ride for mere seconds before returning to class the next morning. As the son of renowned rodeo promoter and cowboy Neal Gay, Don was immersed in the culture of rodeo from a young age and was destined to carve out his own place in its storied history.
Raised in Mesquite, Texas, Don’s childhood was shaped by the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, founded by his father and 16-time world champion Jim Shoulders, whom Don refers to as the “Babe Ruth of Rodeo.”
“I had the world’s biggest dirt playground,” recalls Don.
The rodeo world became his home, classroom, and arena.
His dedication and hard work paid off as he started to make a name for himself in the sport.
Record-Breaking Achievements
Throughout his career, Don Gay achieved numerous record-breaking accomplishments that solidified his status as a legend in professional bull riding.