Rodeo Days

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"Don't be afraid to go after what you want to do, and what you want to be.

But don't be afraid to be willing to pay the price."
~Lane Frost~
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1983

In high school Lane was offered rodeo scholarships,
but he decided to pursue a professional bull riding career.

In 1983, he received full membership in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,
(PRCA), at the age of 19.

He finished 16th in the standings. The top 15 finishers are qualified to compete
in the National Finals Rodeo.
The 15th qualifier was Jacky Gibbs, Lane's traveling partner at that time.

Lane almost made it in the Finals when Charlie Sampson, the defending champion was injured.
However, Charlie decided to compete. Lane was named "Rookie of the Year" runner up.

Lane also competed in the 1983 "Super Bull" competition in Del Rio, TX.
At "Super Bull" he received the "Tough Luck" award for his bone-jarring, but unsuccessful efforts.

And also in 1983, Lane was the PRCA Prairie Circuit Bull Riding Champion.

1984

1984 was the first year Lane qualified for the National Finals Rodeo.

He would qualify every year from now until his death in 1989.

He would also be one of the top 15 bull riders for the next 5 consecutive years until his death.

1988 - $ 74,700 - #6
1987 - $105,697 - #1
1986 - $104,128 - #3
1985 - $ 87,100 - #3
1984 - $ 50,688 - #9

Lifetime PRCA Earnings: $489,736

In the 1984 Finals, Lane rode 5 out of 10 bulls. He finished 9th in the World Standings and
was 5th in NFR earnings.

1985
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Lane gets hung up on
the famous Mr T.

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What Lane had to say about trying Mr. T!

"Shoot...I just got hung up on his neck and he just kept working on me before I could get out of there.

It's been three weeks since then, and my teeth feel a little better.
My whole head feels a little better.

It wasn't that bad the first three days, you know, my face just swelled up and my eyes got shut on me.

But as soon as I got my eyes opened where I could see...I was feeling a lot better.
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What Mr. T's owner, Pete Burns, was quoted as saying:

"At the Casper Pro Tour Rodeo last fall, Lane Frost rode Mr. T for about four or five seconds.
Then he bucked him off. It looked as if the bull bucked harder those last few seconds
than he had ever bucked in his life."
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Remember Lane winning the "Tough Luck" Award at the "Super Bull" competition in Del Rio, TX
in 1983?

In 1985 Lane earned the Championship at the "Super Bull" event, also known as the
"George Paul Memorial Bull Riding Competition".

You deserved it, Lane. We were proud of you!

On September 6th, 1985, Lane was honored to be one of the 136 top rodeo competitors chosen
for the newly-formed "Winston Tour Rodeo".

The "Winston Tour Rodeo" was something different than ever tried before. It was a
national series of competitions showcasing only the top athletes of pro rodeo.

The events were held for 4 days, (Thursday through Sunday),
and gave fans a chance to meet and get to know the contestants.
ESPN carried telecasts of events around the country.

Major sponsors endorsed 8 member "teams". Lane's team was endorsed by Copenhagen-Skoal.
The tour created new enthusiasm and excitement for pro rodeo, as fans began to know the competitors
and develop loyalties.

In the 1985 National Finals Rodeo, Lane finished 3rd in world standings and 2nd in NFR earnings.
He rode 8 out of 10 bulls, Red Rock being one of the bulls that bucked him off.

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* Lane in the 1985 National Finals Rodeo *
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1986

In 1986 Lane was the "Winston Tour" Bull Riding Champion runner up.

He also was co-champion of the "Super Bull" event along with his friend Tuff Hedeman.

In March, he competed in "The World's Toughest Rodeo" in Oklahoma City,
along with Ted Nuce and Tuff Hedeman.

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Lane successfully rides the Pete Burns' bull "Phantom" at the 1986 Cheyenne Frontier Days,
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even though he had a badly bruised right arm.

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And, in the 1986 National Finals Rodeo, Lane rode 9 out of 10 bulls.
Had Lane rode all 10, he would have won the
World Championship in 1986, and would have been the first bull rider to ride all 10 bulls in the Finals.

The name of the bull that bucked him off? Red Rock.

So, in 1986 Lane was the NFR Average Winner, and placed 3rd in the world standings.
His friend Tuff Hedeman won the championship.
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A jacket from the 1986 Finals

An article in "The Oklahoman" in late 1986 listed some of Lane's injuries up until that time.

They were:
a ripped groin muscle,
broken ribs,
a punctured lung,
a broken nose
and "a bunch of head stitches".

Asked how he coped, Lane replied, "Mind over matter. A lot of positive thinking."

Another article states that when the punctured lung happened in Utah, Lane spent most of
the night at his Uncle's house sitting in a chair in great pain, waiting for morning so someone
could take him to the hospital. He didn't want to wake anyone up!

1987

In September of 1987, Lane won the bull-riding at the "Pendleton Round Up", even though he had
broken his collarbone in August at the Elks PRCA Rodeo in Seminole, OK.

He also competed in the "Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo" in September.
and was the Texas Circuit Bull Riding Champion of 1987.

But the moment Lane worked for all his life came when he became the "World Champion Bull Rider"
in Dec. of 1987 at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV.

As his father, Clyde Frost said, "It wasn't 'if' he became World Champion to Lane, it was 'when'."

Lane rode 8 out of 10 bulls, and placed second in NFR earnings.
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Lane in the 1987 National Finals Rodeo
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A poster of Lane put out after he became World Champion.
(No longer available.)

Lane had a friend named Lee who also was a bull rider from Oklahoma.
Lee was in an automobile accident, and was paralyzed and used a wheelchair.

Lane made it possible for Lee to attend the 1987 Finals by paying all of Lee's expenses,
(plane ticket, hotel and meals).

In an interview after the 1987 Finals, Lane said,
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"The last few years I set a goal of finishing in the top five.
This year it was to be World Champion. I always told myself that if I could be a World Champion,
I'd be a good one. And that's what I've got big plans to do."

Lane also credited three men for his success:

"Freckles (Brown) and my Dad are the greatest teachers I ever had.
They got me started the right way. Donnie (Gay) came along and put the icing on the cake."

It was in an interview right after the finals that Lane said his famous quote,

"Don't be afraid to go after what you want to do, and what you want to be.
But don't be afraid to be willing to pay the price."

The new World Champion didn't rest though. Before December was over,
Lane competed in the seventh annual
"Heart of America Bull Riding Championship" in Shawnee, OK.

1988

In February of 1988 Lane, Ted Nuce, and Tuff Hedeman competed in the
"Rodeo 1988 Challenge Cup", an event held in conjunction with the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada.

Lane won the bronze medal, and the US Team won the gold. See the medal and buckle Lane won on the
Buckles page.

Lane was also knocked out for five minutes after one of his rides!

March 1988 found Lane winning the Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello, Id.

April, May, June and July of 1988 Lane was in the
"Challenge of the Champions" with Red Rock.

Lane still continued to compete in the regular rodeos, also riding Red Rock at the selected events.
(For the complete story on this match up, see my "Red Rock" Page.)

* Lane & Red Rock~Redding, CA.*

Lane & Red Rock~Livermore, CA.

Lane & Red Rock~Sisters, OR.

Lane and Tuff Hedeman were invited by Copenhagen/Skoal
to compete in Hawaii in the Hawaiian Professional Championship Rodeo.
Both rode their bulls, that were previously unridden.

At the 1988 National Rodeo Finals, Lane rode 7 out of 10 bulls and
finished fifth in NFR earnings and sixth in the world standings.

A coat from the
1988 National Finals Rodeo Las Vegas, NV

1989

Lane felt that he lost his focus in 1988,
and in the 1989 PRCA's handbook,
next to his picture and statistics, he states:

"I slacked up a little bit last year,
but this year I sure would like to win the World again.
There's less pressure now, and I'm feeling good about
going after another title."

In February 1989, Lane helped put
together, and participated in
"Bullmania, A Tribute to Freckles Brown."
in Guthrie, OK.

In the event, Lane wore the #2.
No one could predict that, the very next year, 1990,
#2 would be retired in Lane's memory,
and hung on a gate chute.

And the event would be renamed:

"Bullmania, A Tribute to Freckles Brown and Lane Frost."

However, because there was a problem with the name
"Bullmania" (it might have been a copyright problem),
in 1991the event name was changed to:

"Bullnanza, a Tribute to Freckles Brown and Lane Frost"

and is still held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie.

At the end of July 1989,
Lane traveled to Wyoming to compete in
"Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo"
in Cheyenne.
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The pictures above and below are of
Lane riding his second bull
at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo
on Wednesday, July 26, 1989.
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After Lane rode
his second bull at Cheyenne Frontier Days,
sportscaster George Michael,
a frequent interviewer and friend of Lane,
spoke with Lane,
in what sadly would become Lane's last interview.

George said to Lane,

"But you just had to give
the crowd a thrill with that dismount!"

(Lane had somersaulted over the tail
of the bull at the end of his ride.)

And Lane replied, in words that would become
truer than anyone could imagine in only four days,

"Well, I don't always ride that good,
but I can usually get off pretty exciting
or do something afterwards."
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Four days later,
on Sunday, July 30, 1989,
Lane drew the bull named
"Takin' Care of Business".
After successfully completing his ride
he dismounted.

Lane was then hit twice by the bull,
the second time by the bull's right horn,
breaking his ribs and severing a main artery.

He died within moments.
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Lane's last ride on "Takin' Care of Business"
Cheyenne Frontier Days
July 30, 1989

For more on this sad day
see the "Cheyenne 1989" page.
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