EVENTS
Champion Steer Wrestler, 1953
Saddle Bronc Rider
Calf Roper
Ross Dollarhide, Jr. was born at Burns, Oregon, in 1921 and grew up on a nearby ranch. Perhaps symbolically, his father was riding saddle broncs on the day of his birth. After service in World War II, the younger Dollarhide worked with his father on the famed MC Ranch and commenced rodeo competition as a saddle bronc rider and steer wrestler.
Dollarhide rodeoed all over the far West, winning 17 event titles in saddle bronc riding, 18 event titles in steer wrestling, eight in team roping and four in calf roping between 1947 and 1955. He took the saddle bronc title three consecutive years at the San Francisco Cow Palace (1948-1950) and parlayed his consistent steer-wrestling talents into both RCA and IRA national titles in 1953. Over the years, his versatility resulted in more than 20 all-around cowboy venue awards.
During the late 1950s, Ross Dollarhide, Jr. followed fellow rodeo competitors like Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens and Casey Tibbs to Hollywood, where he worked as a riding double and stuntman. He died in 1977 at Flagstaff, Arizona, from injuries received while on location with a television western series.
