ProRodeo Sports News - August 23, 2019

MEMORIAM MARTY WOOD

DeVere Helfrich photo

Marty Wood during a ride on Midnight (Hutchinson) during the second go-round at the 1960 NFR in Dallas.

BY TRACY RENCK T he rodeo world lost one of its top saddle bronc riders of all time on Aug. 10. ProRodeo Hall of Fame saddle bronc rider Marty Wood passed away that day. He was 86. Wood was a three-time PRCA saddle bronc riding world champion and was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1991. In addition to winning the 1958, 1964 and 1966 world titles, Wood also finished second in the world standings four times – 1957, 1962-63 and 1967 – and was no lower than fifth in the world standings from 1957-67. A Final Ride

Saddle bronc rider who won three PRCA world championships passes at 86 He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 15 times, tied for fifth most in saddle bronc riding history. In the NFR Top 60 Countdown, a listing of the top 60 most iconic individuals in NFR history leading up to last year’s 60thWrangler National Finals Rodeo, Wood finished sixth. Wood’s friend Arland Calvert, a former ProRodeo Sports News writer, describedWood as the “dark, handsome Canadian,” as a “dedicated loner” who “picks his own company.” Calvert also describedWood’s famed bronc riding technique: “Marty’s slashing style – nobody reaches out front (in spurring) any farther or uses the full spread with more vigor – has been compared to the late Pete Knight

ProRodeo Sports News 8/23/2019

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