- Tuff Hedeman
Richard Neale "Tuff" Hedeman (b.
2 March 1963 ,El Paso, Texas ) is a retired 3 timePRCA World Champion bull rider, as well as the 1995 PBR World Champion, and is the current president of the CBR. [ [http://www.cbrbull.com/ CBRBull.com - Welcome ] ] He was also the president of the PBR until leaving to go to the CBR, and is also known for having been one ofLane Frost 's closest friends.Professional career
Hedeman won many junior rodeo growing up. 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 University . 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 married Tracy Stepp in May of 1986. He would go on to qualify for 11 NFR's. 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 Hedeman out of the arena for the entire year of 1994.Hedeman was instrumental in starting the
Professional Bull Riders , or PBR. In 1995, he won the PBR world Championship. Hedeman 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 inOdessa, 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, Hedeman retired in 1999. He was leading the PBR World Standings in 1998 at the time of his injury.He is well know for a horrible wreck that took place in Las Vegas at the PBR finals where Tuff drew the great bull
Bodacious . Hedeman's face was shattered requiring 11 surgeries. Hedeman competed eight weeks after the famous hit.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 Murray has since replaced Tuff as the PBR's president). Tuff, Tracy, and their 2 boys one which he named Lane after Lane Frost, now live on a ranch near Morgan Mill, TX. He also adds color commentary on TV to many rodeo broadcasts. He spends his free time traveling to bull ridings, and team roping.References
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