Kenny McLean photo compliments of "Okanagan Archive Trust Society"

Kenny McLean was born May 17, 1939, in Penticton and resided in Okanagan Falls. He started breaking colts for his dad when he was just 12 years old and went on to rodeo competitions at the age of 17. He won 14 Canadian Championships and in 1962 was the World Saddle Bronc Champion. He was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame and was the only rodeo cowboy to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame. He also received Canada’s highest honour, the Order of Canada, again the only cowboy to receive such an honour. During his life, he sponsored and ran rodeo schools, particularly for the young, training many future champions, and many champions returned time after time to improve their skills at the sport. He encouraged young competitors right up until he passed away on July 13, 2002.