McLean, Kenny

(1939- 2002) started breaking colts for his dad when he was just 12 years old and went on to rodeo competitions at the age of 17. He won 14 Canadian Championships and in 1962 was the World Saddle Bronc Champion He won his first buckle in 1956 at the age of seventeen and forty-five years later won the world senior pro calf roping championship. Kenny was the first cowboy ever to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and in 1976 he received the Order of Canada. In addition to being one of Canada’s greatest rodeo athletes of all time Kenny was also a mentor to several generations of rodeo cowboys. He was a gifted horse trainer and teacher and a tremendous ambassador for Canada and the Sport of Rodeo. Kenny was on his rope horse waiting to compete at a senior pro rodeo in Taber Alberta when he suffered a major heart attack and passed away.
(source: Mike Puhallo and Kenny Mclean)