Tuff Hedeman
Encyclopedia
Richard Neale "Tuff" Hedeman (b. 2 March 1963, El Paso, Texas
) is a retired 3 time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)
World Champion bull rider
, as well as the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion, and is the current president of Championship Bull Riding (CBR). He was also the president of the PBR until leaving to go to the CBR, and is also known for having been one of Lane Frost
's closest friends.
. At Sul Ross he was a member of the rodeo team, competing in bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, and of course bull riding.
Hedeman filled his PRCA permit at one rodeo in 1983 as a bronc rider. He was known for riding bulls that often had not been ridden, with an all or nothing style that amazed rodeo fans. He often traveled with fellow bull riders and close friends Lane Frost
, Cody Lambert
, Jim Sharp, Clint Branger, and Ty Murray
to save travel expenses. He married Tracy Stepp in May 1986. He would go on to qualify for 11 NFRs. By 1993 he had surpassed $1,000,000 in career earnings, and won the 1986, 1989, and 1991 world titles in the PRCA. A neck injury at the National Finals Rodeo in 1993 kept him out of the arena for the entire year of 1994. In 1994 he was portrayed by Stephen Baldwin
in the film 8 Seconds
about the life of his friend Lane Frost. He was actually a stunt double for the man portraying himself.
Hedeman was instrumental in starting the Professional Bull Riders, or PBR. In 1995, he won the PBR world Championship despite his horrific encounter with Bodacious the bull (see paragraph below). He just missed winning the PBR World Title in 1996, coming in 2nd place that year. He finished 3rd in the world during the 1997 PBR season. His last ride was at the PBR event in Odessa, Texas
in 1998, when he landed on his head after getting thrown off and herniated a disc in his previously injured neck. After some consideration, he retired in 1999. He was leading the PBR World Standings in 1998 at the time of his injury.
Hedeman is one of only seven riders to have ever ridden the great bull, Bodacious, with the stand-out ride being a 95-point ride at a 1993 BRO (Bull Riders Only) event in Long Beach, California
. However, his more familiar encounter with him happened in the short-go of the 1995 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas
. He was jerked down by him upon exiting the chutes and struck his face on his head, shattering every major bone in his face. To the crowd's astonishment, he managed to walk out of the arena, albeit a bloody mess. He required several hours of reconstructive surgery for his face, and less than two months later, he was riding again. At the National Finals Rodeo
(NFR) later that year, Hedeman ended up drawing Bodacious again, this time in round 7 of the NFR. He decided to turn him out – getting off of him when he left the chute. He then tipped his hat to him, and he received a standing ovation for his decision. He did this at the request of his son when Bodacious smashed his face earlier that year.
has since replaced him as the PBR's president under much controversy ending their longtime friendship). He, Tracy, and their two boys, one which he named Lane after Lane Frost, now live on a ranch near Parker, Colorado
. He also adds color commentary on TV to many rodeo broadcasts. He spends his free time traveling to bull ridings, and team roping. It was announced that in April 2010 he will be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
.
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
) is a retired 3 time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)
PRCA
PRCA may refer to:*Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association*Protestant Reformed Churches in America*Public Relations Consultants Association*Pure red cell aplasia*Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, a school in Oro Valley, Arizona...
World Champion bull rider
Bull riding
Bull riding refers to rodeo sports that involve a rider getting on a large bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider....
, as well as the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion, and is the current president of Championship Bull Riding (CBR). He was also the president of the PBR until leaving to go to the CBR, and is also known for having been one of Lane Frost
Lane Frost
Lane Clyde Frost was a professional bull rider and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association member, who died in the arena at the 1989 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo as a result of injuries sustained riding the bull "Takin' Care of Business".-Early life:Lane was born on October 12, 1963. At that time,...
's closest friends.
Professional career
Hedeman won many junior rodeos in his youth. In 1980 he won the New Mexico High School rodeo bull riding and All Around titles. He won the Team roping title and All Around again in 1981. After high school he attended Sul Ross State UniversitySul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University , a public university in Alpine, Texas, is named for former Texas governor, Civil War general Lawrence Sullivan Ross. It was founded in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College and was made a university in 1969....
. At Sul Ross he was a member of the rodeo team, competing in bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, and of course bull riding.
Hedeman filled his PRCA permit at one rodeo in 1983 as a bronc rider. He was known for riding bulls that often had not been ridden, with an all or nothing style that amazed rodeo fans. He often traveled with fellow bull riders and close friends Lane Frost
Lane Frost
Lane Clyde Frost was a professional bull rider and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association member, who died in the arena at the 1989 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo as a result of injuries sustained riding the bull "Takin' Care of Business".-Early life:Lane was born on October 12, 1963. At that time,...
, Cody Lambert
Cody Lambert
Cody Lambert is a former professional saddle bronc & bull rider. He was a Champion Bull Riding Cowboy and Vice President of the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. He created the protective vest that most Professional Bull Riders wear, after seeing the death of his friend, Lane Frost at the Cheyenne...
, Jim Sharp, Clint Branger, and Ty Murray
Ty Murray
Ty Monroe Murray is a nine-time World Champion rodeo cowboy and co-founder and board adviser of the Professional Bull Riders.-Early life:...
to save travel expenses. He married Tracy Stepp in May 1986. He would go on to qualify for 11 NFRs. By 1993 he had surpassed $1,000,000 in career earnings, and won the 1986, 1989, and 1991 world titles in the PRCA. A neck injury at the National Finals Rodeo in 1993 kept him out of the arena for the entire year of 1994. In 1994 he was portrayed by Stephen Baldwin
Stephen Baldwin
Stephen Andrew Baldwin is an American actor, director, producer and author. One of the Baldwin brothers, he is known for his roles as William F. Cody in the western show The Young Riders and as Stuart in the movie Threesome...
in the film 8 Seconds
8 Seconds
8 Seconds is a 1994 biographical film about American rodeo legend and world bull riding champion Lane Frost. It details his life from his youth learning how to ride bulls, until his death in 1989. It was directed by John G...
about the life of his friend Lane Frost. He was actually a stunt double for the man portraying himself.
Hedeman was instrumental in starting the Professional Bull Riders, or PBR. In 1995, he won the PBR world Championship despite his horrific encounter with Bodacious the bull (see paragraph below). He just missed winning the PBR World Title in 1996, coming in 2nd place that year. He finished 3rd in the world during the 1997 PBR season. His last ride was at the PBR event in Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
in 1998, when he landed on his head after getting thrown off and herniated a disc in his previously injured neck. After some consideration, he retired in 1999. He was leading the PBR World Standings in 1998 at the time of his injury.
Hedeman is one of only seven riders to have ever ridden the great bull, Bodacious, with the stand-out ride being a 95-point ride at a 1993 BRO (Bull Riders Only) event in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. However, his more familiar encounter with him happened in the short-go of the 1995 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. He was jerked down by him upon exiting the chutes and struck his face on his head, shattering every major bone in his face. To the crowd's astonishment, he managed to walk out of the arena, albeit a bloody mess. He required several hours of reconstructive surgery for his face, and less than two months later, he was riding again. At the National Finals Rodeo
National Finals Rodeo
The National Finals Rodeo, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, is the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Wrangler Jeans is the title sponsor for the 10-day event, commonly just called the National Finals or NFR, which is also sometimes referred to as the...
(NFR) later that year, Hedeman ended up drawing Bodacious again, this time in round 7 of the NFR. He decided to turn him out – getting off of him when he left the chute. He then tipped his hat to him, and he received a standing ovation for his decision. He did this at the request of his son when Bodacious smashed his face earlier that year.
End of career, retirement and after
He is now the current president of the CBR after abruptly leaving the PBR in 2004 for undisclosed reasons (Ty MurrayTy Murray
Ty Monroe Murray is a nine-time World Champion rodeo cowboy and co-founder and board adviser of the Professional Bull Riders.-Early life:...
has since replaced him as the PBR's president under much controversy ending their longtime friendship). He, Tracy, and their two boys, one which he named Lane after Lane Frost, now live on a ranch near Parker, Colorado
Parker, Colorado
The Town of Parker is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. As a self-declared "Town" under the Home Rule Statutes, Parker is the 2nd most populous town in the county, behind Castle Rock. In recent years, Parker has become a commuter town at the southeasternmost...
. He also adds color commentary on TV to many rodeo broadcasts. He spends his free time traveling to bull ridings, and team roping. It was announced that in April 2010 he will be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
- History :Now housed in the Historic Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The organization, dedicated to the sport of rodeo and the recognition of Texas' contribution to that sport, the TRCHF was founded in 1975 by Johnny Boren and a group of Belton, Texas, businessmen...
.