Don Gay
Encyclopedia
Don "Donnie" Gay is an eight-time PRCA
world champion bullrider. Born in 1953 to Neal and Evelyn "Cookie" Foster and was only a year old when she died of leukemia. Kay Gay raised Donny and Pete as her own.. He grew up in Mesquite, Texas
, and started rodeo at age 6. His father is Neal Gay, a well-known rodeo competitor and rodeo producer. Don was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame
in 1979; his father was inducted in 1993, becoming the only father and son to receive that honor. Don retired from professional rodeo in 1989.
Gay now does television rodeo commentary for PRCA events on Fox Sports
as well as on ESPN
. He was also the commentator for PBR big-league events on TNN between 1994 and 2001. In 1997 he received the PBR's Ring of Honor.
In 2007 Gay was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
along with his brothers Pete and Jim.
which still operates today. He used Mesquite to perfect his skills on both bulls and broncs. He got his PRCA
permit just out of high school and hit the road. He soon got his pilots license. He used the plane to make more rodeos. This practice was still quite new to rodeo at the time. Don Gay won almost every major rodeo in the country at some point during his career. He won the first of 8 world titles in 1974. He would go on to win in 1975, 1976,and 1977. His next four titles came in 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1984. The record of 8 world titles in bull riding still stands to this day.
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is an organization whose members compete in rodeos throughout North America, primarily in the United States. The PRCA sanctions rodeo venues and events through the PRCA Circuit System. Its championship event is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo...
world champion bullrider. Born in 1953 to Neal and Evelyn "Cookie" Foster and was only a year old when she died of leukemia. Kay Gay raised Donny and Pete as her own.. He grew up in Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
, and started rodeo at age 6. His father is Neal Gay, a well-known rodeo competitor and rodeo producer. Don was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame
ProRodeo Hall of Fame
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is dedicated to the preservation of rodeo artifacts and continued interest in the sport. It is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and run by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's board. It claims to be the "only museum in the world devoted exclusively to the...
in 1979; his father was inducted in 1993, becoming the only father and son to receive that honor. Don retired from professional rodeo in 1989.
Gay now does television rodeo commentary for PRCA events on Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
as well as on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He was also the commentator for PBR big-league events on TNN between 1994 and 2001. In 1997 he received the PBR's Ring of Honor.
In 2007 Gay was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
- History :Now housed in the Historic Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The organization, dedicated to the sport of rodeo and the recognition of Texas' contribution to that sport, the TRCHF was founded in 1975 by Johnny Boren and a group of Belton, Texas, businessmen...
along with his brothers Pete and Jim.
Rodeo career
Don started riding calves at age 6. His Father ran the famed Mesquite RodeoMesquite Championship Rodeo
The Mesquite Championship Rodeo is a rodeo located in Mesquite, Texas that operates during rodeo season .Founded in 1958 by Neal Gay as a permanent rodeo , the rodeo struggled in the early years, but grew as the city of Mesquite grew...
which still operates today. He used Mesquite to perfect his skills on both bulls and broncs. He got his PRCA
PRCA
PRCA may refer to:*Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association*Protestant Reformed Churches in America*Public Relations Consultants Association*Pure red cell aplasia*Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, a school in Oro Valley, Arizona...
permit just out of high school and hit the road. He soon got his pilots license. He used the plane to make more rodeos. This practice was still quite new to rodeo at the time. Don Gay won almost every major rodeo in the country at some point during his career. He won the first of 8 world titles in 1974. He would go on to win in 1975, 1976,and 1977. His next four titles came in 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1984. The record of 8 world titles in bull riding still stands to this day.
External links
- Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association http://www.prorodeo.com/ - Official Web Site
- Mesquite Championship Rodeo www.MesquiteRodeo.com - Official Web Site
- ProRodeo Hall of Fame http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/
- Professional Bull Riders, Inc. http://www.pbrnow.com/
- Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame http://www.texasrodeocowboy.com
- MCR History 70's http://www.mesquiterodeo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:mcr-history-70s&catid=78:about-mcr&Itemid=1
- MCR History 80's http://www.mesquiterodeo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97:mcr-history-80s&catid=78:about-mcr&Itemid=1
- MCR History 90's http://www.mesquiterodeo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98:mcr-history-90s&catid=78:about-mcr&Itemid=1
- MCR History 00's http://www.mesquiterodeo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99:mcr-history-00s&catid=78:about-mcr&Itemid=1
- "No Guts, No Glory", September 06, 1982, accessed March 31, 2010
- "Don Gay Talks With Weekender", January 24, 2008, accessed March 31, 2010
- Don Gay: Bull Riding Champion Quiz http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Sports/Don-Gay-Bull-Riding-Champion-280897.html, accessed March 31, 2010
- Maestro Gaxiola - "Rodeo Classics" - Donny Gay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1xsTutv3h0, accessed March 31, 2010