PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

PASSINGS

NFR BULL RIDER MARK CAIN PASSES AWAY AT 56 PRCA Staff

B ull rider Mark Cain, a four time National Finals Rodeo qualifier (1993-96), passed away on Dec. 13 in Atoka, Okla. He was 56. Cain, who joined the PRCA in 1989, finished seventh in the PRCA world standings in 1993, was 11th in 1994; 14th in 1995; and 10th in 1996. “It is a great business, and the peo ple I have met in my years of rodeo are outstanding,” said Cain in the 1995 PRCA Media Guide. In 1993, Cain split first in Round 8 with an 84-point ride on Mesquite Championship’s Dodge Dakota. He had a fourth-place finish in Round 10. He also finished with a career-best fourth in the average with 527 points on seven head.

Outside the arena, Cain’s career also extended onto the silver screen with his work in the 1994 classic 8 Seconds and he was an active member of the Screen Actors Guild. “Mark was a gutsy, never give up kind of guy, who could ride with anyone,” ProRodeo Hall of Fame bull rider Tuff Hedeman said. “He was probably similar to me in that he exceeded his natural ability just because of his effort. He was a Lane Frost protégé. He looked up to Lane and Lane certainly did ev erything he could to help him and Mark got a lot of his inspiration and approach from Lane. “What Lane admired about him is the same thing I would admire about him and that is the desire to ride at

PRCA Photo by Dave Jennings

“I’m surprised I didn’t make the Finals earlier in my career, but things have materialized well so far,” said Cain in the 1994 PRCA Media Guide. At the 1994 Finals, he won Round 6 outright with an 89-point ride on Beutler & Gaylord Rodeo’s No. 88. He also was fourth in Round 9. His best performance in 1995 was fourth in Round 7. “Rodeo has been very good to me and being able to make your dreams come true is a wonderful experience in itself,” Cain said in the 1996 PRCA Media Guide. In his final trip to the NFR in 1996, he split second in Round 1; was sixth in Round 8. In addition to Cain’s NFR trips, he was the 1989 Re sistol Reserve Bull Riding Rookie of the Year. He won the Santa Maria Rodeo (1994); and the Grand National Rodeo (1994 and 1996); . He also won the 1996 Prairie Circuit year-end champion. Cain was born to Louise (Hight) Cain and Glenn Dale Jones on Sept. 6, 1969. He was later adopted by Foster Cain and grew up in Atoka. Cain’s ambitions were evident from an early age. He idolized bull riders both locally and nationally and con fidently proclaimed to his parents that he was going to be a bull rider. He started actively training at age 14 and worked tirelessly towards his dream. Cain was known for his fearless riding, cheeky smile, and warm kindness to fans, he was consistently person able and loquacious everywhere he went and to everyone he met.

the highest level, and he would never give up, and those are the guys you look up to because bull riding is all about effort, energy, desire and the will not to weaken. Those are the guys who really, at the end of the day, have the chance to get to the highest level and be competitive. Mark didn’t make the NFR accidentally. It is because he was legit.” After retiring from rodeo, Cain continued to be in volved with rodeo as a touring judge as well as enjoying a career as an auctioneer and rancher and was a proud member of the Cattlemen’s Association. He remained involved in his community and was a long-time member of the Shriners as well as active at Masonic Lodge #4 as a 33rd degree Master Mason. Cain was married to Linda Marie (Jacobs) Cain in 2007, and they made their home in Atoka. Cain was a deeply religious man and a believer in Christ. He was never afraid to share his faith. He was also not afraid to sacrifice his time and his health to help those that he loved. He was a devoted son and spent much of the last year of his life caring for his mother during her final illness. Mark was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Linda Carol Linscott. He is survived by wife Linda Marie Cain; daughter, Mattlyn Ross and husband Bran don and grandson, Rhys; son, Gavin Foster Cain; step sons Bryce Allen and wife Elisa and their children Con ner and Ryan and Cameron Calhoun; as well as nephew, Ethan Linscott and wife Saranah.

56 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2026