A native of Montana, he joined the RCA in the early 1940s, winning his first discipline world championship in 1943 before beating out his brother for the 1945 unofficial All-Around Cowboy title.

Beginning in 1947, Linderman worked various jobs for the RCA, including spells as a member of the organization's board of directors, president, and secretary-treasurer.

His desire for a season-ending event featuring leaders in the RCA's point standings helped lead to the creation of the National Finals Rodeo.

Born in Bridger, Montana and raised in Red Lodge,[1][2][3] Linderman had six brothers,[4] four of whom were cowboys on professional rodeo tours.

[7] Two years later, he won the All-Around title, which was unofficial at the time; his closest competitor was younger brother Bud Linderman.

[6] In 1946, Linderman attempted to repeat as All-Around Cowboy, and entered the Deadwood, South Dakota rodeo with the lead in the standings.

[3] The next year, Linderman won the all-around championship at the Calgary Stampede rodeo, and added a victory in the saddle bronc discipline.

[2] In 1952, Linderman earned more than $28,000 in RCA events, finishing third in the All-Around Cowboy standings behind Harry Tompkins and Buck Rutherford.

[1] In defense of the championship in 1954, he led the standings until mid-August, but fractured his right arm in the Colorado Springs Rodeo while competing in steer wrestling.

The RCA gave Linderman a position on its board of directors in 1947, as he was recovering from his appendectomy;[3] he represented bareback bronc riders.

[19] While on the board, he pushed for the creation of an event to be held at the conclusion of the rodeo season, which would involve the leaders in the standings.

[14] In 1959, Linderman purchased a Twin Falls, Idaho cattle ranch; he also acquired land in Gooding, for a residence.

According to one story, Linderman exited the plane after surviving the crash, only to die after returning in an effort to help others still aboard.