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Pacific Bell (bull)

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Pacific Bell
Pacific Bell bucking at a National Finals Rodeo
CountryUnited States
BreedBrangus
Brand14
SexBull
ColorDark Tan with a White Face
Weight1,750 lbs
Born1981
Russell Ranch, Folsom, California
Years active1987 - 1993
BreederDan Russell
OwnerDan Russell
Notable riders
Died1993 (aged 11–12)
Honors
Inducted into ProRodeo Hall of Fame 2007
Awards
PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year 1988, 1989, 1990

Pacific Bell #14 (April 1, 1981 – 1993) was an American bucking bull best known for being the only three-time consecutive Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year (1988 – 1990) and for only being ridden 5 times in 150 attempts. In 2007, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. The PRCA said in an official YouTube induction video that "Skoal Pacific Bell was a crowd pleaser and a cowboy challenger."

Background

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Pacific Bell was born in 1981.[1] He was a dark tan/black color with a big white face.[2] He was a brangus bull who weighed 1,750 pounds (790 kg) at the peak of his career.[2] Raised and owned throughout his career by stock contractor Dan Russell,[3] Pacific Bell was born and raised on the Russell Ranch in Folsom, California. He earned his name at age four after he began bucking and Russell noticed that "he liked to throw back his head while bucking as if he wanted to reach out and touch someone."[2]

Russell had a significant impact in the sport of bull riding. He owned and operated Western Rodeos, Inc., which he inherited from his father. The Russell family had been involved in the cattle industry since the Civil War. The co-founders of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) rode Russell's stock throughout the 1980s and 90s. Bullfighters for the PBR and PRCA such as Rob Smets, Shorty Gorham, and Joe Baumgartner started their careers working at events in California where Russell provided stock. Russell was particularly well-remembered for his involvement with rodeo in Salinas, California. Since 2002, he lived with his wife Linda in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Danny, his son, is also a stock contractor.[4]

Like the undefeated PRCA bull Red Rock, undefeated PBR bull Mick E. Mouse,[5] barely ridden PBR bull Bushwacker and other such famous bulls, Pacific Bell showed that he had no set bucking pattern.[2] The bull would toss his head side to side and could jump extremely high.[2] His bucking abilities made it extremely difficult for cowboys to determine what the bull was going to do and get a qualified ride from him.[2]

Career

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At the age of four, Pacific Bell began to buck. As his career progressed, he became sponsored by the Skoal tobacco company, thus becoming known as Skoal Pacific Bell. He became the top bull at the 1987 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for bucking off Rickey Lindsey and Dale Johansen. While the bull was part of the PRCA circuit, he bucked off cowboy after cowboy, including many of the best bull riders of the time. These included 1987 PRCA world champion Lane Frost, who was the only cowboy to ride 1987 Bucking Bull of the Year Red Rock (which he did after Red Rock's retirement, in the Challenge of the Champions). Then came three-time world champion and rider of "the most dangerous bull ever" Bodacious, Tuff Hedeman. Skoal Pacific Bell also bucked off "King of the Cowboys" Ty Murray.

In 1988, during the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco, California, Skoal Pacific Bell was ridden by future PRCA world champion Cody Custer for 90 points.[6] In Round 1 of the 1988 NFR, future world champion Jim Sharp logged an 85-point ride on Skoal Pacific Bell. It paved the way for the first of Sharp's two PRCA world championships.[2] "He's a bull that's quick and kicks really high and spins real fast," Sharp later told reporters. "He just bucks hard. It's a combination of everything that makes him so good. He does it all."[2] 1985 world champion Ted Nuce was awarded 83 points on him in Round 10 of that same year's NFR.[7] David Fournier rode him for 72 points in Round 10 of the 1989 NFR. The bull bucked off 1982 PRCA world champion Charlie Sampson in the championship round of the 1990 California Rodeo Salinas. This was Sampson's third attempt to try to ride him.[8]

Skoal Pacific Bell bucked off future PBR world champion Michael Gaffney during Round 6 of the 1991 NFR.[9] He was then successfully ridden by future PBR world champion Troy Dunn for 91 points during Round 10 of that same year's NFR. In February 1993, the bull gave 1992 PRCA world champion Cody Custer a concussion and a laceration to his chin at Bullnanza in Guthrie, Oklahoma.[10] At the 1993 Bull Riders Only (BRO) World Championship in Long Beach, California, he was successfully ridden in the championship round by Buddy Gulden for 81 points. This was Skoal Pacific Bell's last known professional out.[11]

Death and legacy

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Skoal Pacific Bell died in late 1993.[1][3] Dan Russell died on December 29, 2013 of a heart attack at age 61 in his home near Henryetta, Oklahoma.[12][13] He was known for raising and owning several champion bucking bulls such as Pacific Bell, Rocky, and Grasshopper.[4][13]

Honors

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  • Selected as the top bull at the 1987 Nationals Finals Rodeo†[2]
  • 1988 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year[14] award decided by vote of top 30 bull riders
  • 1989 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year[14]
  • 1990 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year[14]
  • Only bull to win PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year award three times in a row[2]
  • Inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2007[2]
†Red Rock won Bucking Bull of the Year in 1987

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Bucking Stock Connection". thebuckingstockconnection.com. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Skoal Pacific Bell - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame". Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "ProRodeo Hall of Fame will welcome 8 people, 1 bull". Colorado Springs Gazette. July 10, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Professional Bull Riders - Stock contractor Dan Russell passes away". Professional Bull Riders. December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "An Ode to Mick E. Mouse, One of the Most Badass Bulls to Ever Live | VICE Sports". VICE Sports. August 31, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "Cody Custer". ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "PacificBell1988NFRTedNuce.MP4". YouTube. May 3, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  8. ^ "Pacific Bell vs Charles Sampson - 90 Rodeo Salinas". YouTube. April 20, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  9. ^ "Pacific Bell vs Michael Gaffney - 91 NFR, Rd 6". YouTube. September 16, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  10. ^ "Bull Rider Custer Has Life Back in Focus". Oklahoman.com. January 30, 1994. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "Buddy Gulden vs Pacific Bell - 93 BRO Championship (81 pts)". Youtube. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  12. ^ "Professional Bull Riders - Stock contractor Dan Russell passes away". Professional Bull Riders. December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Obituary: Cattleman Daniel M. 'Dan' Russell, 61, was heir to historic Folsom rodeo operation". sacbee. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c "PRCA Bull of the Year Winners". probullstats.com. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
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