"Show me a hero,
and I'll write you a tragedy!"
- F. Scott Fiztgerald
I came to know of Lane just before his fatal accident at Cheyenne Frontier Days in July of 1989. To be truthful, I didn't know a whole lot about him, other than his rodeo career, until after the movie "8 Seconds" was released. Soon after, I began doing some research about Lane and learned a lot more details about his life. I am sorry to say that I have had little luck finding information on the net. I apologize if I get any of this information wrong as I have found much contridiction in my research.
Lane was born to Clyde and Elsie Frost on October 12,1963 in La Junta, CO. Although, at the time the Frost's were living in Lapoint, Utah. Clyde was still rodeoing so Elsie went to stay with her parents in near-by Kim, CO.
At the young age of 3, Lane started showing interest in rodeo and by the time he was 10 he was practicing his riding skills on calves.
In 1977, the Frost family moved to Lane, Oklahoma where Lane came to meet one of the men who had an incredible impact on his rodeo career.
Freckles Brown had been to the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) 8 times between 1959 and 1969. In 1962 , at the age of 42, Freckles won the World Championship for Bullriding. Freckles lived in near-by Hugo, Ok. when the Frost family moved to Lane, OK. It was there that Lane learned riding techniques from both Freckles and his dad.
In 1983, at age 19, Lane earned his Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association card as well as a "Tough Luck" award for his un-successful competition at "Super Bull" in Del Rio, Texas. He also was awarded runner-up "Rookie of the Year".
On January 5, 1985 Lane and Kelli Frost were married.
In 1987 at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lane recieved the award of World Champion Bullrider at the age of 24. On March 20 of the same year, Lane's mentor Freckles Brown lost his 4 year battle with cancer and died. He was buried at Mount Olive Cemetary in Hugo, OK.
On July 25, 1988 after 4 attempts successfully rode the infamous bull Red Rock at Spanish Fork. Previous to Lane's successful ride, Red Rock had successfully thrown 309 riders. However, Red Rock, unlike some of the other infamous bulls in rodeo history never tried to injure any of his fallen riders. As soon as they were thrown the old bull would just turn around and head for the gate. There is not a time in the history of Red Rock(that I know of) that he intentionally hurt a rider.
photo by Sue Rosonoff from the Book,
Gold Buckle by Jeff Coplon
On July 30, 1989 at the Final Sunday of the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo Lane was fatally injured after his dismount by a bull named "Taking Care of Business", a bull owned by the Bad Company Rodeo. On his final ride Lane scored 85 points. A ride I am quite sure he would have been proud of. Contrary to popular belief, none of Lanes family was witness to his fatal accident that rainy July day.Lane was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetary in Hugo, Oklahoma. He lies right next to his mentor Freckles Brown.
In 1990 both lane and Red Rock were inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, CO. Lane became the youngest man to recieve this honor and Red Rock became only the third bull in rodeo history to recieve this honor. Red Rock was preceded by bulls "Tornado" and "Oscar".
From the research I have done and quotes I have read from people that knew Lane, he was quite an incredible person. He always seemed to find the time to talk to people. No matter who they were or where they came from. It seems to me that Lane always put other people in front of himself and his own needs. This is the reason we chose his name for our son. Although we spelled it different(Layne), we hope that with our faith in god and the way we were raised we can bring up a son that will make as much impact on the people around him as Lane Frost has done.
Excerpts from the movie "8 Seconds"-
Waitin' on Lane
We've been waitin' on Lane ever since we recall,
It started in April and it's comin' on Fall.
We have us a bite we have us a brew,
We get us some shut-eye we have us a chew.
Someone's taking his picture,
Someone's wantin' a loan,
He's kissin' the babies,
Or he's on the damn phone.
But we'll keep on waitin' though we ain't pleased,
'Cause the World Champion Bullrider has the van keys!!
Cowboy is His Name
There's a hundred years of history,
And a hundred before that,
All gathered in the thinkin' going on beneath his hat.
The cold flame burns within him,
Till his skin is cold as ice.
And the dues he paid to get here,
Are worth every sacrifice.
All the miles spent sleepy driving,
All the money down the drain.
All the if I's and nearly's,
All the bandages and pain.
All the female tears left dryin',
All the fever and the fight,
Are just a small down payment,
On the ride he makes tonight.
It's guts and love and glory,
One mortals chance at fame,
His legacy is Rodeo,
And Cowboy is his name.
Both poems recited by Cody Lamberts character in "8 Seconds"
This is a poem I found in the December issue of the magazine "American Cowboy"
Cowboy Up
What does it mean to "cowboy up"?
Does that phrase have a meaning for you?
If you have worked on a ranch or a rodeo it would,
But there's a deeper meaning too.
It's David against Goliath,
Jim Bowie at the Alamo,
It's the Spartans on the plains of Marathon,
It's the beaches at Anzio.
It's reaching down inside yourself,
When there ain't no more to give.
And it's just plain refusin' to die,
When you don't have the strength to live.
It's Lane Frost and Tuff Hedeman
And Moses at the Red Sea.
It's Washington at Valley Forge
And the slaughter at Wounded Knee.
It's all those and all of us
Who find a power that's not our own
And don't believe in quittin'
And are never really alone.
Written By:
John M. Doyle, Warminster,PA
If you have any new or different information on Lane Frost or if you know where I might be able to find a picture of Lane, please E-Mail me.
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