Dan Taylor: Former PRCA President dies at 87

Dan Taylor, a former president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the man known widely as “The Master Chute Boss,” died Nov. 3 in his hometown of Doole, TX. He was 87.

Taylor served as timed-event chute boss at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City 11 times (1965-73, 1978-79) and held the same position at the National Finals Steer Roping in Guthrie, OK, six times.

He was in charge of Chute 9 – the timed event area – at the Cheyenne (WY) Frontier Days Rodeo for 49 years before stepping down last year, and Taylor had a 64-year association with the “Daddy of ’em All,” as contestant, judge and chute boss.

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Taylor joined the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, forerunner to the PRCA, in 1942 at age 18 and was issued card number 64. He won tie-down roping titles during his career at San Antonio; Ellensburg, WA; Boston; Nampa, ID; Ogden, UT; and Salt Lake City.

He finished third in the world standings in 1950 and fourth in 1951.

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In 1954, Taylor was named Rodeo Cowboys Association Calf Roping Director, a post he held through 1956. He served one year as PRCA President in 1986.

The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted Taylor and his wife, Berva Dawn Sorensen Taylor, in 2005, and a year later he was voted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

Memorials may be sent to the West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Road, San Angelo, TX 76904; the West Texas Rehab Center, 3001 S. Jackson, San Angelo, TX 76904 or to any charity of the giver’s choice.

Dan Taylor, a former president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the man known widely as “The Master Chute Boss,” died Nov. 3 in his hometown of Doole, TX. He was 87.

Taylor served as timed-event chute boss at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City 11 times (1965-73, 1978-79) and held the same position at the National Finals Steer Roping in Guthrie, OK, six times.

He was in charge of Chute 9 – the timed event area – at the Cheyenne (WY) Frontier Days Rodeo for 49 years before stepping down last year, and Taylor had a 64-year association with the “Daddy of ’em All,” as contestant, judge and chute boss.

Taylor joined the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, forerunner to the PRCA, in 1942 at age 18 and was issued card number 64. He won tie-down roping titles during his career at San Antonio; Ellensburg, WA; Boston; Nampa, ID; Ogden, UT; and Salt Lake City.

He finished third in the world standings in 1950 and fourth in 1951.

In 1954, Taylor was named Rodeo Cowboys Association Calf Roping Director, a post he held through 1956. He served one year as PRCA President in 1986.

The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted Taylor and his wife, Berva Dawn Sorensen Taylor, in 2005, and a year later he was voted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

Memorials may be sent to the West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Road, San Angelo, TX 76904; the West Texas Rehab Center, 3001 S. Jackson, San Angelo, TX 76904 or to any charity of the giver’s choice.