Steve Duhon was born in May 1962 in Opelousas, Louisiana. His father, Billy, trained racehorses, so Steve was raised learning to ride. He also grew up wanting to rodeo, and started competing while in high school. A skilled athlete, Duhon was a standout football player in high school and college, even playing on the Louisiana State University football team. When it came time to decide between rodeo and football, however, Duhon chose rodeo.
Though he competed in all timed rodeo events, he was primarily a bulldogger – and a great one at that. Named 1985 PRCA Steer Wrestling Rookie of the Year, Duhon went on to win the world steer wrestling title in 1986, 1987, and 1993. He qualified for the NFR a total of eight times (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998), winning the NFR average twice (1987 and 1993). In 1986 he set an NFR record with a run of 3 seconds flat – a time that was tied by Brian Fields in 2001, but has yet to be surpassed.
A 2003 inductee into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, he retired from professional rodeo in 2000. Yet, he continues training and mentoring the next generation of steer wrestlers. Duhon and his wife, Janet, live in Jasper, Texas.
