No cowboy has ever dominated an event the way Guy Allen has dominated the steer roping during his career. He has qualified for 32 consecutive National Finals Steer Ropings (1977-2008) and has won 18 world championships in the event.
He was born September 5, 1958, to a family that roping was a way of life. His father, James, qualified for seven NFSRs and his brother, Gip, also qualified for several. In 1983 James, Gip and Guy all qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping The only father and two sons to qualify in any event in the same year at the National Finals Rodeo.
Allen darted his rodeo career in 1961 and grew up competing in junior and high school rodeos and graduated from Santa Alma, TX. He attended college at Ranger (Texas) College and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.
Allen won his first word title in the steer roping when he was only 19. He is the youngest man to ever win the world steer roping crown. He entered his first professional rodeo when he was 16 and quickly filled his permit in less than a month.
Since that day, the records have been plentiful for Allen. In 1991 he made a run in Garden City, Kan., in 8.4. That was considered the world record in steer roping and he has matched it twice since. At Coffeyville, Kan, in 1996, Allen lowered his world record with an 8.1 run, and then in 2000 he lowered it to 7.9 in Duncan, OK.
In 1989, Allen won the average at the NSFR 144.2 on 10 head, a new record at the time. His 1998 winnings of $99,132 is a record for the single season earnings in steer roping, as are his 18 world championships and 31 consecutive NSFR appearances. He also holds a record for the most NSFR titles, with five.
In 2001, Allen tied the record of 16 world championships that Jim Shoulders held for more than 40 years. Long thought to be an unbeatable record, Allen did just that in 2002 with number 17 and in 2003 with number 18.
Allen’s career in rodeo has been about dominance, but he has also had his share of close calls. In 1990 he missed winning his first potential world steer roping championship by only $85, finishing second to another rodeo legend, Phil Lyne. In 2005, Allen missed winning his 19th world steer roping championship by $1.67. He finished second to Scott Snedecor.
Allen was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1996 and has more than lived up to the nickname his peers gave him… the Legend.
