Bull Riding Hall of Fame facts for kids
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| Established | 2012 |
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| Location | Cowtown Coliseum Fort Worth Stockyards Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Type | Hall of Fame |
The Bull Riding Hall of Fame is a special place that celebrates the sport of bull riding. It's located in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. This Hall of Fame is a non-profit group that aims to "recognize, memorialize, and applaud" the amazing people and animals who have made a big difference in bull riding. This includes bull riders, bullfighters, bulls, and even the people who own the bulls (called stock contractors). Fans from all over the world can join and be a part of this organization.
The Hall of Fame wants to honor all the champions in bull riding. It also works to keep the history of the sport alive. You can find exhibits, photos, videos, and personal items from the inductees there. People and animals are inducted into four main groups: Bull Riders, Bull Fighters, Bulls, and Legends. The first group of inductees was chosen in 2015, and the Hall opened its doors to visitors in 2016.
History of the Hall of Fame
The people who started the Bull Riding Hall of Fame wanted to honor everyone who reached the highest level in bull riding. This includes the riders, bullfighters, bulls, and even the groups and events that made the sport great. The organization helps by showing historical displays, teaching visitors, hosting events, and managing everything through different teams.
The founders also helped build the Hall and keep the museum running at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. A husband and wife team, Bill and Tammi Putnam, were among the co-founders and were on the board of directors.
How the Hall of Fame Works
The Bull Riding Hall of Fame Museum is found at Cowtown Coliseum, which is in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas.
Each year, a new group of nominees is chosen to be inducted into the Hall. Members of the Hall, including those already inducted, help choose these new honorees by nominating and voting for them. People can become members for a year or for life. Companies and organizations can also become partners or sponsors.
From 2015 to 2019, the yearly induction ceremony was held at Cowtown Coliseum. Since 2020, the ceremony has taken place at Billy Bob's Texas.
Amazing Inductees
The Bull Riding Hall of Fame has honored many incredible individuals and animals from different bull riding groups. These include the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA), and the Professional Bull Riders (PBR).
Many of the people inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame are also in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. For example, bullfighter Wick Peth is in both. Another famous inductee is PRCA bull rider Lane Frost, who was well-known for his exciting match against the bull Red Rock in the "Challenge of the Champions."
From the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), several inductees are also in the PBR's own Hall of Fame, called the "Heroes and Legends Celebration." Chris Shivers, who holds many PBR records, was inducted into both. Another PBR legend is bull rider Tuff Hedeman. He was one of the few riders who managed to ride the famous bull Bodacious. Tuff Hedeman competed in both the PRCA and the PBR, and he is also in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
Many famous bulls have also been inducted. For example, Tornado was inducted in 1979. Bodacious was inducted in 1999. Bodacious was the only bull to win both the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year and the PBR World Champion Bull titles in 1995, until Bruiser achieved this in 2017. Other famous bulls include Bushwacker, Red Rock, and Little Yellow Jacket.
See also
- Lists of rodeo performers
- List of ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees
- Professional Bull Riders
- Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
- ProRodeo Hall of Fame
- National Rodeo Hall of Fame
