Monty Taylor grew up on a ranch near Allison, Texas, and started riding calves when he was very young. He entered his first rodeo in Blair, Okla., at the age of five. Monty and his brother, Andy, would run all of the cows, calves, and bulls up into a corral and ride them. But, this was only after their dad had left in the morning. They didn’t get a bucking chute until they were in high school.
Both the Taylor brothers competed at every level from junior rodeos all the way into the professional ranks. In 1971, Monty won his first championship at the age of 14 in the American Junior Rodeo Association. He also won at the age of 15 and at 16 was the runner-up to Steve Bland.
He competed in college rodeo at Texas Tech University and got his permit in the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), later to become the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 1973, and his card in 1974. In 1975, he rode the most famous bull of that era, Oscar, in Plymouth, Calif. Only six qualified rides were made on the great bull that was featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary, “Great American Cowboy.”
Monty qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) three times, first in 1978 when he finished fourth in the world and won the opening round of the NFR on Cervi’s #6. In 1979, he finished the year ranked ninth in the world and won third in the average at the NFR. In 1980, Monty ended the year ranked 12th.
The 1981 season ended Monty’s streak of NFR qualifications, due to injury. He did judge the bull riding at the NFR that season and continues to judge bull ridings in the PBR. In 1985, he was drafted on the Winston Pro Tour by Benny Binion’s Horseshoe team.
Monty won several prestigious events during his career, including San Antonio, Houston, Calgary, and the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque, N.M. He was known as a cowboy that was able to ride the El Manturs.
