Denny Flynn
Denny Flynn (born April 21, 1951) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He is from Charleston, Arkansas.
Career[edit]
In 1969, Flynn won the Arkansas High School All-Around rodeo title. He earned his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) card in 1973.[1] In 1975, in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was gored by a bull. The horn penetrated ten inches into his body, missing his heart by a half-inch. He rode to the hospital in a truck holding his wound in his hands.[2] In 1979, in Palestine, Illinois, Flynn rode Steiner's Red Lightning for a score of 98 out of 100. This broke the previous record for roughstock competition,[3] and is now the second-highest ever recorded ride score in PRCA history for a roughstock event.[2] He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) ten times, winning the event average three times.[1] In 1981, he suffered a concussion on his sixth ride, but managed to ride 9 of 10 bulls to win the championship.[1] In 1983, he broke an ankle on his ninth bull ride. He needed to ride a tenth bull to win, so he rode it with his broken ankle.[1]
Honors[edit]
- 2002 PBR Ring of Honor[4]
- 2010 ProRodeo Hall of Fame[5]
- 2010 Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum[6]
- 2017 Bull Riding Hall of Fame[7]
- 2019 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame[1][8]
Retirement[edit]
He retired at the age of 34 in 1985. When Red Lightning retired in 1987, Flynn rode one more ceremonial ride on the bull that almost killed him in Salt Lake City.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "Bull rider Flynn joins state Hall". March 30, 2019. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ a b Boutwell, Christian (March 26, 2019). "Bull tough: Charleston rider rode into glory". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ Naber, Matt. "For the Record: Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo". Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "PBR Ring of Honor". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "Denny Flynn". ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "Denny Flynn". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "Bull Riding Hall of Fame inductees". Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ "Past Inductees" (PDF). Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 15, 2020.