ProRodeo Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
August 9th, 1997
August 9 was one Tuff day .
But though it got much more press than the day before, the 9th was only the second half of yet another historical Hedeman event, the induction of the King of the Bull Riders into the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs.
Tuff Hedeman has done it all in his sport. And his unparalleled achievements are only half of that story. His peers marvel at his true grit and respect him as the guy who tries the hardest every single time and never says die.
Fittingly, on the eve of being officially enshrined in the Hall, Hedeman's friends threw him a little party. They gathered in his honor from all over the map at the posh Antlers Doubletree Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs, and shared every emotion with their friend and hero.
George Michael of "George Michael's Sports Machine" fame prepared a touching video tribute for his longtime friend that included everything from Tuff as a tot, to footage from Hedeman's last days with his best friend, Lane Frost. That film was shot by Michael at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in 1989, just prior to Frost's devastating death .
Frost's parents, Clyde and Elsie, were among those who made the trip to Colorado to see Hedeman immortalized in the Hall.
Ty Murray, Cody Lambert and Ron Pack spoke to the crowd full of family and friends at the Antlers Doubletree that night.
Murray recalled the first time he met Hedeman. He was so intimidated by the super hero, he admitted, that he really wanted to impress him. He got on a bull that had been basically been a walk in the park for him on previous attempts. But when Hedeman pulled his rope, it blew his mind. He froze up and the bull dusted him, right in front of his idol. (continued)
