Lane Frost was a bull riding champion who had a passion for the sport since he was a child. He was known for his skill, courage, and charisma in the rodeo arena. He was also a devoted Christian, a loving husband, and a loyal friend. He inspired many people with his positive attitude and humble personality. But his life was cut short by a tragic accident that shocked the rodeo world and left a lasting legacy.
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The Early Years of Lane Frost
Lane Clyde Frost was born on October 12, 1963, in La Junta, Colorado, to Clyde and Elsie Frost. His parents were both rodeo competitors, and Lane grew up on a dairy farm in Utah, where he started riding calves at the age of five or six. He also competed in wrestling and calf roping, but his true passion was bull riding. He idolized the eight-time world champion Don Gay, who became his mentor and friend.
Lane moved to Oklahoma with his family when he was 14, and continued to pursue his rodeo dreams. He won the National High School Bull Riding Championship in 1981, and the Bull Riding Championship of the first Youth National Finals in 1982. He joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) after graduating from high school, and qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 1984. He married Kellie Kyle, a barrel racer from Texas, in 1985.
The Rise of Lane Frost
Lane Frost quickly became one of the top bull riders in the PRCA, earning respect and admiration from his peers and fans. He was known for his signature style of wearing a cowboy hat instead of a helmet, and for his trademark grin that never faded even after a tough ride. He was also known for his generosity and kindness, as he often helped other riders with advice and encouragement.
Lane achieved his greatest success in 1987, when he won the PRCA World Champion Bull Rider title at the NFR. He also became the only rider to score qualified rides on Red Rock, a notorious bull that had bucked off 309 riders in a row. Lane faced Red Rock in seven exhibition matches in 1988, and managed to ride him four times. He also competed at the Rodeo ’88 Challenge Cup in Calgary, Canada, as part of the Cultural Olympiad associated with the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Lane qualified for the NFR for five consecutive years, from 1984 to 1988. He earned over $1 million in prize money during his career, and was sponsored by major brands like Wrangler and Copenhagen. He also appeared in commercials, magazines, and movies. He was featured in the film “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”, starring Scott Glenn and Kate Capshaw.
The Death of Lane Frost
Lane Frost’s life came to an abrupt end on July 30, 1989, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming. He had just completed an 85-point ride on a bull named Takin’ Care of Business, and dismounted as usual. But as he walked away from the bull, he was struck in the back by its horn, which broke several of his ribs and severed an artery near his heart. Lane managed to get up and signal for help from his friend and fellow rider Tuff Hedeman, but collapsed soon after. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was only 25 years old.
Lane’s death was a devastating blow to the rodeo community and his fans around the world. Thousands of people attended his funeral in Oklahoma, where he was buried next to his hero Freckles Brown, another bull riding legend who had died of cancer in 1987. Lane’s story was later portrayed in the 1994 film “8 Seconds”, starring Luke Perry as Lane and Stephen Baldwin as Tuff.
The Legacy of Lane Frost
Lane Frost left behind a legacy that transcends his sport and his time. He is remembered as one of the greatest bull riders of all time, and as a role model for many young people who aspire to follow their dreams. He is honored by various awards, scholarships, memorials, and events that bear his name. He is also immortalized by his statue at Cheyenne Frontier Days Park, where he made his final ride.
Lane Frost’s cause of death was a tragic accident that took away a bull riding legend too soon. But his life was a testament to his faith, his love, and his spirit that touched many hearts and lives. As his mother Elsie said: “He lived more in those 25 years than most people do in 75.”
