The life sized bronze statue of McLean on the great bucking horse Warpaint was unveiled in his home town of Okanagan Falls May 8, 2010 in front of a large crowd of; family, friends and admirers. Kenny McLean was world champion saddle bronc rider in 1962 and won a total of fourteen major titles in his professional career. He won his first buckle in 1956 at the age of seventeen and forty-five years later won the world senior pro calf roping championship. Kenny was the first cowboy ever to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and in 1976 he received the Order Of Canada. He has been inducted into the; Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame, The BC Cowboys Hall of Fame and the National Cowboys Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
In addition to being one of Canada’s greatest rodeo athletes of all time Kenny was also a mentor to several generations of rodeo cowboys. He was a gifted horse trainer and teacher and a tremendous ambassador for Canada and the Sport of Rodeo.
Kenny was on his rope horse waiting to compete at a senior pro rodeo in Taber Alberta July 13 2002 when he suffered a major heart attack and passed away. He was 63 years old.
Family and friends who gathered to watch the unveiling of his memorial agreed that the life size statue created by BC bronze artist Lois Hannah was indeed a fitting tribute to a truly legendary cowboy.
Mike Puhallo
The photo belows Shows Bill Schawrz, local Regional district representative and chair of the Kenny McLean Memmorial Committee , BC Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger and Federal cabinet Minister Stockwell Day
