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National Rodeo Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2026
Marvin Paul Shoulders
Born and raised in Henryetta, Oklahoma, Marvin Paul Shoulders carries forward one of rodeo’s most legendary family heritages. He earned his permit in 1968, competing in bareback and bull riding until an injury forced his retirement in 1980.
Marvin’s competitive career was explosive. In 1969, he captured the RCA Bareback, Bull Riding, and All-Around titles. He qualified for the NFR four consecutive times (1972–1975) and was crowned the 1973 NFR Champion Bull Rider. Over his career, he rode at iconic venues ranging from Cheyenne to Madison Square Garden.
Post-retirement, Marvin dedicated himself to the industry as a pickup man, with the Jim Shoulders Rodeo Company, as an instructor at the Jim Shoulders Riding School and a member of the PRCA Board of Directors. A 2020 Bull Riding Hall of Fame and 2023 P3 Hall of Fame inductee, “MP” is widely known for mentoring youth and keeping the history of the sport alive. He proudly continues the legacy of his late parents: his father, Jim Shoulders, who broke ground on the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and his mother, Sharon, who served on its RHS board for many years. Proud to be part of a legendary family heritage, Marvin Paul has truly left his own indelible mark on rodeo history.
Born and raised in Henryetta, Oklahoma, Marvin Paul Shoulders carries forward one of rodeo’s most legendary family heritages. He earned his permit in 1968, competing in bareback and bull riding until an injury forced his retirement in 1980.
Marvin’s competitive career was explosive. In 1969, he captured the RCA Bareback, Bull Riding, and All-Around titles. He qualified for the NFR four consecutive times (1972–1975) and was crowned the 1973 NFR Champion Bull Rider. Over his career, he rode at iconic venues ranging from Cheyenne to Madison Square Garden.
Post-retirement, Marvin dedicated himself to the industry as a pickup man, with the Jim Shoulders Rodeo Company, as an instructor at the Jim Shoulders Riding School and a member of the PRCA Board of Directors. A 2020 Bull Riding Hall of Fame and 2023 P3 Hall of Fame inductee, “MP” is widely known for mentoring youth and keeping the history of the sport alive. He proudly continues the legacy of his late parents: his father, Jim Shoulders, who broke ground on the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and his mother, Sharon, who served on its RHS board for many years. Proud to be part of a legendary family heritage, Marvin Paul has truly left his own indelible mark on rodeo history.
