Summerrain
04-17-2008, 11:10 AM
Some Good Reading:
Tuff Hedeman returns to George Paul Memorial Bull Riding as Producer with 5 world champions set to compete
By John Ludlum
The 31st George Paul Memorial Bull Riding dates are set for May 3-4, 2008 and the granddaddy of all stand alone bull ridings will reunite a three-time George Paul Memorial Bull Riding champion and four-time world champion Tuff Hedeman with Del Rio fans. Hedeman, a Del Rio crowd favorite and popular rodeo cowboy was portrayed in the movie "8 Seconds" which was about the life of his closest friend and traveling partner, Lane Frost. Interestingly enough, both Hedeman and Frost, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. world champion bull riders, shared the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding title in 1986.
The popularity of Tuff comes from many factors, all earned, none given. When he was about 4 or 5 years old his hand was caught between the door and door post of a pickup owned by rodeo cowboy and horse trainer Tater Decker. When Decker realized that Richard Neale, Tuff's birth name, had not shed a tear, he nicknamed him "tough nut", later shortened to Tuff and, that name has remained
As a youngster, Tuff wanted to become a race horse jockey and to that end, he worked is way up the ladder in the racing sport as a groom, rode colts and then graduated to exercising race horses. Growth has been the demise of many a would be race horse jockey and such was the case with Tuff. He shot up from weighing 110 pounds and 5'4" tall to 170 pounds and 5'11". Many have despaired when their dream of being a champion in a particular sport is derailed but, not Tuff. Switching from horse racing to rodeo was an easy decision. He had started riding calves at 4. At 13 he was riding "junior" bulls, some weighing 1200 pounds and, then a short two years later graduated to grown bulls. Being the youngest of seven children, Tuff learned competition was a daily routine and was just another factor of life to be dealt with. It is also where he learned the word, try. "Try" is not just something you do from time to time; it is what you do everyday in everything you do. In 1980 he won the New Mexico High School Rodeo Association bull riding and all-around titles. He repeated the NMHSRA all-around title and added the team roping title as well in 1981. With the ability to work riding as well as timed events, rodeo coach John Mahoney of Sul Ross offered Tuff a rodeo scholarship. The offer paid off when Tuff was made a member of the team and participated in the 1982 National Collegiate Finals in Bozeman, MT. Contesting in four events: bull riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping and steer wrestling, the Sul Ross team won the NIRA men's world championship. Mahoney has often said, "I never knew anyone who had as much determination as Tuff". In 1983 after a second win at the NIRA finals, Tuff turned professional.
In 1983 the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Assn. issued a permit to an applicant until he demonstrates he can win $1,000. Tuff, in his first PRCA rodeo earned enough in the saddle bronc riding to fill the permit requirements and became a full fledged member of the PRCA. In 1984, he earned a spot at the National Finals Rodeo by being among the top 15 at season's end in the bull riding. He secured his NFR bull riding position every year from 1984-1993, for the next ten straight years. At the 1993 National Finals Rodeo a neck injury caused temporary paralysis of his legs. The recovery process from that rodeo accident took most of 1994. In 1995 and again in 1996 he returned to the National Finals Rodeo.
The first PRCA world championship he won was in 1986 and his second was in 1989, just five months after his closest friend, Lane Frost was killed by Bad Company's Rodeo bull, "Takin Care of Business", at Cheyenne, WY. Donning the PRCA bull riding world title again in 1991, Tuff continued to be a force to be reckoned with.
A fledging organization called BRO (Bull Riders Only) had been formed around 1990 to promote bull riding as a stand alone sport. At the time it was formed, the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was already in its thirteenth year and was recognized as the premier stand alone bull riding in the country. Displeased with BRO owner's attempt to control rider sponsorship and endorsements, Tuff, and 20 other bull riders formed PBR. The George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was one of the original PBR events and was televised as part of the PBR for three years on TNN.
Tuff left PBR in 2004 and joined forces with Terry Williams, a five-time stock contractor of the year and four-time bucking bull of the year owner, who founded CBR with businessman Joel Logan in 2002. Williams is known for his excellence in breeding and raising some of the finest bucking bulls in the sport of bull riding. Tuff joined the organization to give professional bull riders another venue and added opportunities to win substantial money. Terry Williams and Tuff Hedeman both stress that we want professional bull riding with a family atmosphere. We want your wife, children and grandmother to feel comfortable being around Championship Bull Riding.
Serving as President of the CBR, Tuff has remained committed to the sport to which his name has become synonymous. When asked what a return to the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding meant to him he responded, "It's the history of the event itself. It's where stand alone bull riding really began as an institution. It is the original and when you say the name George Paul, every one knows just what an incredible man and bull rider he was and the legacy he left. Returning as the producer of the event I couldn't be more excited. In 1986, the greatest event a bull rider could win was the NFR and a world championship. The big three buckles were the NFR, world championship and the George Paul. The first big time buckle I ever won was in 1986 when I won the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, Superbull. I also won Salinas, CA, and a world championship that year. That was an incredible year for me. What made the George Paul extra special was that Lane (Frost) and I were co-champions at the George Paul. One of my favorite pictures is Lane and me receiving the George Paul buckle". When asked which George Paul win of the three (1986, 1992, 1995) meant the most his reply was without hesitation, "The first year I won it. Lane and me getting the buckle in that photograph can never be replaced as one of the greatest highlights and memories of my career".
continued:
Tuff Hedeman returns to George Paul Memorial Bull Riding as Producer with 5 world champions set to compete
By John Ludlum
The 31st George Paul Memorial Bull Riding dates are set for May 3-4, 2008 and the granddaddy of all stand alone bull ridings will reunite a three-time George Paul Memorial Bull Riding champion and four-time world champion Tuff Hedeman with Del Rio fans. Hedeman, a Del Rio crowd favorite and popular rodeo cowboy was portrayed in the movie "8 Seconds" which was about the life of his closest friend and traveling partner, Lane Frost. Interestingly enough, both Hedeman and Frost, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. world champion bull riders, shared the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding title in 1986.
The popularity of Tuff comes from many factors, all earned, none given. When he was about 4 or 5 years old his hand was caught between the door and door post of a pickup owned by rodeo cowboy and horse trainer Tater Decker. When Decker realized that Richard Neale, Tuff's birth name, had not shed a tear, he nicknamed him "tough nut", later shortened to Tuff and, that name has remained
As a youngster, Tuff wanted to become a race horse jockey and to that end, he worked is way up the ladder in the racing sport as a groom, rode colts and then graduated to exercising race horses. Growth has been the demise of many a would be race horse jockey and such was the case with Tuff. He shot up from weighing 110 pounds and 5'4" tall to 170 pounds and 5'11". Many have despaired when their dream of being a champion in a particular sport is derailed but, not Tuff. Switching from horse racing to rodeo was an easy decision. He had started riding calves at 4. At 13 he was riding "junior" bulls, some weighing 1200 pounds and, then a short two years later graduated to grown bulls. Being the youngest of seven children, Tuff learned competition was a daily routine and was just another factor of life to be dealt with. It is also where he learned the word, try. "Try" is not just something you do from time to time; it is what you do everyday in everything you do. In 1980 he won the New Mexico High School Rodeo Association bull riding and all-around titles. He repeated the NMHSRA all-around title and added the team roping title as well in 1981. With the ability to work riding as well as timed events, rodeo coach John Mahoney of Sul Ross offered Tuff a rodeo scholarship. The offer paid off when Tuff was made a member of the team and participated in the 1982 National Collegiate Finals in Bozeman, MT. Contesting in four events: bull riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping and steer wrestling, the Sul Ross team won the NIRA men's world championship. Mahoney has often said, "I never knew anyone who had as much determination as Tuff". In 1983 after a second win at the NIRA finals, Tuff turned professional.
In 1983 the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Assn. issued a permit to an applicant until he demonstrates he can win $1,000. Tuff, in his first PRCA rodeo earned enough in the saddle bronc riding to fill the permit requirements and became a full fledged member of the PRCA. In 1984, he earned a spot at the National Finals Rodeo by being among the top 15 at season's end in the bull riding. He secured his NFR bull riding position every year from 1984-1993, for the next ten straight years. At the 1993 National Finals Rodeo a neck injury caused temporary paralysis of his legs. The recovery process from that rodeo accident took most of 1994. In 1995 and again in 1996 he returned to the National Finals Rodeo.
The first PRCA world championship he won was in 1986 and his second was in 1989, just five months after his closest friend, Lane Frost was killed by Bad Company's Rodeo bull, "Takin Care of Business", at Cheyenne, WY. Donning the PRCA bull riding world title again in 1991, Tuff continued to be a force to be reckoned with.
A fledging organization called BRO (Bull Riders Only) had been formed around 1990 to promote bull riding as a stand alone sport. At the time it was formed, the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was already in its thirteenth year and was recognized as the premier stand alone bull riding in the country. Displeased with BRO owner's attempt to control rider sponsorship and endorsements, Tuff, and 20 other bull riders formed PBR. The George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was one of the original PBR events and was televised as part of the PBR for three years on TNN.
Tuff left PBR in 2004 and joined forces with Terry Williams, a five-time stock contractor of the year and four-time bucking bull of the year owner, who founded CBR with businessman Joel Logan in 2002. Williams is known for his excellence in breeding and raising some of the finest bucking bulls in the sport of bull riding. Tuff joined the organization to give professional bull riders another venue and added opportunities to win substantial money. Terry Williams and Tuff Hedeman both stress that we want professional bull riding with a family atmosphere. We want your wife, children and grandmother to feel comfortable being around Championship Bull Riding.
Serving as President of the CBR, Tuff has remained committed to the sport to which his name has become synonymous. When asked what a return to the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding meant to him he responded, "It's the history of the event itself. It's where stand alone bull riding really began as an institution. It is the original and when you say the name George Paul, every one knows just what an incredible man and bull rider he was and the legacy he left. Returning as the producer of the event I couldn't be more excited. In 1986, the greatest event a bull rider could win was the NFR and a world championship. The big three buckles were the NFR, world championship and the George Paul. The first big time buckle I ever won was in 1986 when I won the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, Superbull. I also won Salinas, CA, and a world championship that year. That was an incredible year for me. What made the George Paul extra special was that Lane (Frost) and I were co-champions at the George Paul. One of my favorite pictures is Lane and me receiving the George Paul buckle". When asked which George Paul win of the three (1986, 1992, 1995) meant the most his reply was without hesitation, "The first year I won it. Lane and me getting the buckle in that photograph can never be replaced as one of the greatest highlights and memories of my career".
continued: