Lane Frost
Tuff Hedeman
Back in those days the bull fighters were more traditional and were sponsored by Wrangler jeans and wore their patch on our seats. A lot has changed in the rodeo business over the years now Dickies sponsors a lot of the bull fighters so the look more like hockey players to me but they are colorful. They also came out with Kevlar vest like Cody Lambert Started wearing in the early 1990’s and helmets for those with head injuries. I am glad to see that. I rodeoed during Lane Frost time I remember seeing him cover a lot of bulls he traveled a lot with Tuffy back then or you may know him as Tuff Hedeman. Tuffy was exactly what his name said. I’ve seen him clear out a club and take on 6 guys at once. He wasn’t the feller to make mad. But we were all good friends behind the bucking shoots allot like family because we lived our lives on the road and would see each other each weekend for a show. One of my most memorable experiences as a bull rider was spending a few weeks living in my travel trailer at Don Gays place in Mesquite TX at his arena. Don is 8 times world champion bull rider. Don and his father who was the toughest man in Texas as far as I was concerned, was teaching me how to cover a bull. In fact I think his dad got a buckle for that Toughest Man in Texas. Anyhow Don and his dad were helping me learn better tactics for staying center of the bull and Monty Henson who they called Hawk Eye was there to help. One of the first things they had me do was go all the way to the other end of the arena and stand dead center. Then I was to plant my feet and not move at all with my hand straight out in front of me. Ok, I thought now what? Hawk Eye claimed up on the fence and smiled at me and Don went to the back of the bucking shoots. Then I heard Don say don’t you move an inch until you feel hair. Then it happened Don turned out a 2500 pound horned Bull! I felt like I just stepped on to the highway and was going to be hit by a Buss. Don then give me some news you can’t out run him so the only way out of that arena is you stand you butt still until you feel the hair on his head then roll out and make a sharp turns until you hit the fence, but if you try to flat out run him you’re going to lose. That was how Donnie’s dad tough him he held nothing back and let us have it all. When they ran the bulls up in the chute most of us a little seasoned cowboys except for one feller. He looked too good to be true he had new chaps, jeans, spurs, rope everything and he drove a Porsche. He was ready to go right up until they ran the bulls in the chutes me and my buddies looked around and all we could see was his rope hanging on the fence and the dust off the back of his fancy car as he drove off as fast as he could. Guess he must have had a lot of money and wanted to ride a bull but when he got up close to them the chicken in him came out. Hey if you read this Id like to know your name because you might be smarter than the rest of us. But we rode bull after bull all day long and by night was I sore. Now I see how come Don was a champion because of his dad. The bulls came on the chutes and one of them was from the National Finals Rodeo and all the other boys’ stepped back when he came in the chute. We’ll I wanted to make an impression on Don and the others and I was a bit cocky a little so I said pull my rope on him, I’m going to ride this one. I claimed up on him buried my spurs as deep as I could and nod my head. The fireworks started then I fought that bull for seemed to be for hours but was only 5.8 seconds and he slung me right on the ground like slapping leather. It rang my bell and then he stomped on my femur bone leaving me what we call a strawberry or red spot and bruised the bone and cracked it. I could not carry any weight on that left leg I tried to run but could not get up. Then I heard Donnie’s dad holler Get up, Get up what kind of cowboy are you. You get your %#@*$! And get around the back of those shoots and get back on. As stunned as I was I hopped up on one leg the behind the chute and they ran the bull in. The other guys about 7 of them helped me get my rope on. Out of fear of Dons dad Neil Gay, I claimed on another time. I tried with all I had in me to keep center of that bull when that gate came open and did pretty good considering I only had one working leg. But again I eat mouth full of dirt and got up on one foot with my jeans about torn off and smashed straw hat and Neil, Dons dad said ok, get ready we will start getting back on them in the morning. He taught tough and endurance and that a man can just about endure anything. And I will never forget seeing Donnie Gay and Monty Henson playing football in the arena waiting for everyone to show up for practice. After that I went on the rodeo circuit and become a pretty good bull rider. And I feel very fortunate to have to been able to stay with Donnie.
Don Gay
Neal Gay Dons Father
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| Don Gay |
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