Shawn McMullen

NIRA Tie-Down Roping Champion
1969-1996

Shawn McMullan was born August 22, 1969, in San Angelo, Texas to Kenny and Glenda McMullan.  He graduated from Iraan High School in 1987 where he amassed FFA, Junior Rodeo, and many athletic awards.  Shawn's specialty was calf roping and he was on the rodeo teams at both Odessa College and Tarleton State University.

          Shawn first attended the West of the Pecos Rodeo as a young boy when his Dad competed in the calf roping event and his Mom entered the barrel racing competition.  As a teenager, Shawn filled his PRCApermit there.

          In Shawn's career, he won at Houston, El Paso, San Angelo, and Calgary as well as qualified for the National Finals several times.  Between 1992 and 1995, he was the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Tie-Down Roping Champion.  Also, he was the PRCA Rookie of the Year Runner-up in 1991 and the calf roping money leader in 1993.  

          Shawn lost his life on August 17th, 1996 in a head-on collision when traveling with a fellow tie-down roper, Stran Smith and Jarrod Grieve of Australia from one rodeo to another.  His rodeo coach at Odessa College said, “He was a fantastic young man.  He was dedicated to his family, and to the sport and he loved people, especially kids.  He was a super ambassador for rodeo.”

          In 1996 he was posthumously awarded the honor of being the "Fan's Favorite    Cowboy".  Shawn is survived by his parents and sister Mecca and was posthumously inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.