Robert Matthew Tallman (born October 25, 1947) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

professional

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaqu ...

announcer An announcer is a voice artist who relays information to the audience on a broadcast media programme or live event either on radio or television. Television and other media Some announcers work in television production, radio or filmmaki ...

. He is known as "the voice of professional rodeo".

Life

Bob Tallman was born Robert Matthew Tallman on October 25, 1947, in

Orovada, Nevada Orovada is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, Nevada. The population was 155 at the 2010 census. History The first permanent settlement at Orovada was made in 1918. The name is a combination of ''oro'' (Spanish "gold") and Nevada. A ...

, to rancher John B. Tallman and his wife Irene Capelli. Tallman and his sister, Maryanne, grew up on the family's Willow Creek cattle ranch, near Orovada. The Tallmans moved into Winnemucca when Bob was 10 years old. He tried football in high school, but it did not work out athletically. He had a natural talent for golf, but he loved rodeo more, and he could rope. He gained some experience roping in high school and in 4-H. He went to

California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly) is a public university in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States, - Cites the location of the university and shows that the university ...

San Luis Obispo, California ; ; ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly halfway betwee ...

. He was there to rope, but he cared more about spending time with his friends. He did try to ride bucking horses, but was advised by the Canadian bull rider Bob Robinson, "find something else". He attended a rodeo in

Fallon, Nevada Fallon is a city in Churchill County, Nevada, Churchill County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 9,327 at time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Fallon is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahont ...

, circa 1969 where he roped calves. He told the stock contractor that the announcer was, "pitiful". The contractor told him to do it when he was done roping. Tallman did and was paid $100 a performance.

Career

Tallman has announced more than 15,000 rodeo performances in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. He has announced so many rodeos that his voice has become instantly recognizable to rodeo fans. Tallman has announced the

National Finals Rodeo The National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is the premier championship rodeo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). It showcases the talents of the PRCA's top 15 money winners in the season for each event. The NFR is held each year in the f ...

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, more than any other announcer. He has announced the

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003, with the ex ...

for over 30 years. He is the spokesman for many cowboy-themed products. He refers to his voice as his "priceless gift from God" and tries to use it to touch peoples' lives. In the 1990s, Bob Tallman co-hosted the ground-breaking reality outdoor show, Spur of the Moment, celebrating rodeo and the western lifestyle. His co-host was champion barrel racer, Sharon Camarillo. The show was produced by Pat Turner, Stacy Ratliff (both from Jimmy Houston Productions), Adelman, and Dan Stewart. During the same decade, Tallman was a television color commentator for the now-defunct

Bull Riders Only Bull Riders Only, Inc. (BRO) was a professional bull riding organization based in Englewood, Colorado, United States. History Inspired by years of successful unsanctioned stand-alone bull riding events, businessman and former bull rider, Shaw ...

(BRO) circuit in the United States, as well as Cody Snyder's Bullbustin' events in Canada. In the 2000's, Tallman was a television color commentator during the first few years of the now-defunct

Championship Bull Riding Championship Bull Riding, Inc. (CBR) was a professional bull riding organization that was based in Weatherford, Texas, United States. History Stock contractor Terry Williams and Texas businessman Joel Logan founded Championship Bull Riding (CBR) ...

(CBR) circuit. For a time, he was also a member of the board of directors for said organization.

Honors

* 12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year * 2004

ProRodeo Hall of Fame The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy was opened in August 1979 as a museum designed to "preserve the legacy of the cowboy contests, the heritage and culture of those original competitions, and the champions of the past, p ...

* 2005

St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame The St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame is a cowboy hall of fame. Established in 1998, the hall of fame was created to honor those individuals who, throughout its history, made significant contributions or distinguished themselves in their performances to ...

* 2006

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, is a western, historical museum in Fort Worth, Texas, United States that "honors those men and women who have shown excellence in the business and support of rodeo and the western lifestyle in Texas." The Hall ...

* 2006 Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame * 2007

Rodeo Hall of Fame The National Rodeo Hall of Fame was established by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1955. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., the Hall was created to celebrate the contributions of cowboys and cowgirls from around the world. ...

of the

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 American West, Western and Native American art works and Artifact (archaeology), artifacts. The facility also has the worl ...

* 2017

Bull Riding Hall of Fame The Bull Riding Hall of Fame, located at Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, is a hall of fame for the sport of bull riding. It is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Texas, a ...

* 2017

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum, formerly the National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame, is a museum and hall of fame in Fort Worth, Texas. History The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum was founded Fe ...

. * 2019 Reno Rodeo Hall of Fame * 2019

Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame in Fort Worth, Texas, dedicated to the sport of rodeo. History This hall of fame was founded by Johnny Boren. Also contributing to the foundation were a group of Belton, Texas, b ...

* 2020 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Legend of ProRodeo award * 2024 RodeoHouston Hall of Fame

Personal life

Tallman and his wife Kristen reside in Poolville, Texas. They have a daughter. He raises

Angus Angus may refer to: *Angus, Scotland, a council area of Scotland, and formerly a province, sheriffdom, county and district of Scotland * Angus, Canada, a community in Essa, Ontario Animals * Angus cattle, various breeds of beef cattle Media * ...

cows and calves on his ranch.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tallman, Bob 1947 births Living people 20th-century evangelicals 21st-century evangelicals American evangelicals American male film actors American philanthropists Bull Riding Hall of Fame inductees People from Weatherford, Texas People from Winnemucca, Nevada ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees Ranchers from Texas Rodeo announcers