Sports Were The “Heartbeat” Of Larry Ray Dawson’s Life
Larry Ray Dawson lived the life of a cowboy, through and through, and that even included being drafted as a Dallas Cowboy.
On August 28, 2025, Larry died at the age of 86.
Sports were “the heartbeat of Larry’s life,” reads his obituary, and that lifelong passion saw him bring his Stinnett, Texas, high school football team to a state championship; play ball for Texas Christian University, bringing them to Southwest Conference Championships in 1958 and 1959; and then get drafted to the Dallas Cowboys in 1961.
Notably, his college roommate at TCU was also drafted to the Dallas Cowboys: Bob Lilly, aka “Mr. Cowboy.”
Larry’s athleticism would also see him pursue bull riding, calf roping, steer roping, team roping, and — most importantly — steer wrestling.
In 1962, just one year after joining the Cowboys, Larry purchased his Rodeo Cowboys Association (now PRCA) card, pivoting away from football, but it would be several years before he would be fully devoted to ranching and professional rodeo work.
1976 was a particularly significant year for him, as it was his first to work rodeos full-time. That year, he won rodeos in Denver, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and the Calgary Stampede, and then qualified and competed in the National Finals Rodeo.
PRCA notes that Larry “finished 13th in the 1976 PRCA World Standings and split second in Round 1 with an 8.2-second time.”
In the 1976 regular season standings, Larry ranked fourth with $24,463.
From 1978 to 1981, he served on the PRCA Board of Directors as the steer wrestling director, and is a PRCA Gold Card member.
“Though Larry retired from steer wrestling in the late 1980s, he devoted himself to coaching young athletes through steer wrestling schools, often providing the horses and helping rodeo cowboys sharpen their skills in the practice pen,” states his obituary.
He even judged rodeos for several decades and worked with Tri-State High School Rodeo Association from 1993 to 2001.
Larry was was named the region’s top football player of the 1950s by the Amarillo Globe-News in 2001, and was inducted into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
He was also recognized as Texas Tri-State Fair & Rodeo Cowboy of the Year in 2000, and was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2013.
His obituary ended by stating:
“Whether on the field, in the arena, or on the ranch, Larry gave his all and inspired others to do the same. His legacy is carried forward not only in the memories of his accomplishments, but by those who saw him as more than a role model or mentor, to them he was a hero!”
Larry is survived by his wife, Carolyn “Sparky” Bradshaw; three children and their spouses; and eight grandchildren.