Paul Mayo passed away January 24 in Stephenville, Texas, at the age of 78.
A 2X world champion, 3X reserve world champion, 12X NFR qualifer, and ProRodeo Hall of Famer, Paul Mayo was a legend of rodeo.
In the 1960s, he and his brothers revolutionized bareback riding, changing up how they rode to position themselves farther back on the horse and lie flat on the its as it went over the peak of its jump. Known as the Mayo style, their technique is still implemented by bareback riders today.
“He was just a happy-go-lucky guy in rodeo,” his older brother, Don Mayo, told ProRodeo.com. “He liked to have a good time, and (rodeo) was just so easy for him. He was an ungodly natural athlete.”
He was also someone admired in and out of the arena.
“Paul had more friends than you could count,” Don said. “I think everybody liked him. He was a heck of a cowboy and a good friend to anybody.”
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