Eight Rodeo Legends Who Changed the Game

Howdy. Chip Schweiger, here. 

Welcome to another edition of Way Out West. 

The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls—who are feeding a nation. 

There are cowboys… and then there are legends.

Not just good hands or weekend warriors — I’m talking about the ones who could ride anything with hair, rope anything that moved, and leave a boot print so deep in rodeo history, folks are still stepping in it today.

So, today on the show, we’re talking about a place where cowboys are king. This episode isn’t about stats for the sake of stats. It’s about grit. It’s about men who made their name in dust, sweat, and eight-second bursts of glory.

So saddle up. We’re ridin’ through the lives of eight rodeo cowboys you ought to know.

After the episode, check out the show notes at WayOutWestPod.com/rodeo-legends

Hi there and welcome back.

Before we dive in, I’ll tell you why I thought this episode would be interesting — and, honestly, just plain fun.

Rodeo isn’t just another sport. At least not for me. It’s the living, breathing heartbeat of cowboy culture — the kind of thing that blends skill, guts, and a little bit of crazy. These legends I’m about to talk about… they weren’t just great athletes. They were characters. They had stories, rivalries, and moments in the arena that folks still talk about decades later.

And here’s the thing — I love telling these stories because they’re not just about riding or roping. They’re about what it means to show up when that gate clangs open and the whole world’s watching.

So I figured, let’s take a ride through eight of the greatest rodeo cowboys to ever nod their head — and maybe pick up a little cowboy wisdom along the way.

Chapter 1. Jim Shoulders — The Babe Ruth of Rodeo

Let’s start with a man they called the Babe Ruth of Rodeo — Jim Shoulders.
Oklahoma-born, and tougher than a two-dollar steak. He racked up 16 world championships — five all-around, seven bull riding, four bareback riding.

In his prime, Shoulders could ride a bareback bronc, climb off, pull down his hat, and nod his head for a bull — all in the same afternoon. No million-dollar sponsors back then. Just the gate clang, the crowd roar, and a cowboy doing what he was put here to do.

When folks say ‘they don’t make ‘em like they used to,’ Jim Shoulders is exactly who they’re talking about.

Chapter 2. Ty Murray — The King of the Cowboys

Next up — Ty Murray. The King of the Cowboys.
Nine-time World Champion, and one of the best all-around hands to ever nod his head. Ty didn’t just ride for himself — he helped shape the sport. He co-founded the Professional Bull Riders, which brought rodeo into living rooms all over the country.

They say Murray had a work ethic that’d make a ranch boss proud — train all morning, ride all day, and study tape at night. He wanted to be the best in every event he touched… and most days, he was.

If Jim Shoulders built the foundation, Ty Murray added the second story and painted the trim.

Chapter 3. Larry Mahan — Style and Substance

Now Larry Mahan… he was proof you can be a showman and still back it up.
Six-time all-around champ. Two-time bull riding champ. Larry had this swagger — not the kind you fake, but the kind you earn after years of proving yourself in the arena.

He was the first cowboy I can think of who became a household name outside of rodeo circles. TV interviews, magazine covers — he made rodeo look downright glamorous.

But don’t get it twisted. The man wasn’t just about style. He could climb in the chute, nod, and ride rank stock with the best of ‘em. Mahan showed the world that the cowboy way can shine under the bright lights.

Chapter 4. Lane Frost — The Heart of the Cowboy Spirit

Lane Frost. Just the name brings a lump to your throat if you’ve been around rodeo long enough.

1987 World Champion bull rider. Known for his easy smile, big handshake, and the way he treated people — from rodeo kings to the kid climbing the fence for a better view. Lane had that rare gift of making you feel like you’d known him your whole life.

But in 1989, at Cheyenne Frontier Days, tragedy struck. After making 8 on a bull named Takin’ Care of Business, Lane was struck in the back by the bull’s horn. Sadly, he didn’t make it. He was just 25.

That loss shook rodeo to its core. Out of it came the protective vest riders wear today — a piece of gear that’s saved lives, but also stands as a quiet nod to the cowboy who inspired it.

Lane Frost isn’t just remembered for what he did in the arena… but for the man he was outside of it.

Chapter 5. Tuff Hedeman — Tough in Name and Nature

Where there’s Lane Frost, there’s Tuff Hedeman. Best friends. Travel partners. Brothers in every way but blood.

Tuff’s got three World Championships to his name, and he helped start the PBR. But one of his most famous rides came in 1993 on a bull named Bodacious. Eight seconds, the buzzer sounds, and Bodacious slams Tuff so hard he breaks almost every bone in his face.

Most folks would’ve hung up their spurs right there. Not Tuff. He came back. Scars and all. That’s not just toughness — that’s grit forged in fire.

Tuff Hedeman didn’t just ride bulls. He stared down the rankest ones and tipped his hat on the way out.

Chapter 6. Bill Pickett — The Bulldogger

If you’re talkin’ rodeo firsts, you can’t leave out Bill Pickett.

Born in 1870, a Black cowboy from Texas, Pickett invented an event that’s still a fan favorite — bulldogging.

He got the idea from watching ranch dogs work cattle — they’d grab a steer by the lip and wrestle it down. Pickett thought, ‘Why not try it on horseback?’ So he did. He’d leap from the saddle, grab the horns, bite the upper lip — yeah, bite it — and throw the steer to the ground.

Crowds went wild. He joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show and took bulldogging all over the U.S., Mexico, South America, even to England.

Bill Pickett wasn’t just a rodeo star. He was a showman, a trailblazer, and the reason steer wrestling is in the rulebook today.

Chapter 7. Charmayne James — The Barrel Racing Queen

And for pure dominance in the women’s events, no one tops Charmayne James. Now I know Charmayne is not a cowboy in the traditional sense. But I believe cowboy is a state of mind. One of authenticity and grit and compassion. And, in a world that needs more cowboys, I use the term as a compliment to the men and women I’m fortunate to encounter.

So, let’s talk about Charmayne James. She won 11 WPRA World Barrel Racing Championships — ten of them in a row from 1984 to 1993, then came back and did it again in 2002. That’s not just a career, that’s an empire.

Her most famous run? The 1985 National Finals Rodeo. Mid-run, her bridle broke. Most riders would’ve pulled up. Charmayne? She and her horse Scamper finished the pattern bridleless… and still clocked the fastest time. 14.4 seconds.

James brought barrel racing into the spotlight and proved that the precision, speed, and connection between a rider and horse can be just as thrilling as any roughstock ride. She’s the kind of competitor who makes you sit forward in your seat and hold your breath ‘til the last barrel.

Chapter 8. Trevor Brazile — The G.O.A.T. of All-Around

Now if you want to talk pure dominance, you’ve gotta talk Trevor Brazile.
Known as the G.O.A.T. in all-around competition. Brazile has 26 world championships. Let that sink in. Twenty-six.

He’s the kind of cowboy who could win a tie-down roping, then walk right over and take the team roping — and still have gas left in the tank for whatever else came along. Precision, patience, and a knack for winning when the pressure’s white-hot.

Trevor Brazile redefined what it means to be an all-around cowboy in the modern era. And if you ask him how he did it, he’ll probably just tip his hat and say, ‘Hard work.’ And I know he’d say that because I’ve asked him that very question. You see, we both live in Decatur, Texas, and for all his gold buckles, don’t be surprised if you see him at the Braums up on US 287.

Chapter 9. Wrapping it Up

Now I could talk rodeo legends all day — there’s a long list of names who’ve left their mark.

But these eight? They represent the grit, the skill, and the heart that make rodeo more than just a sport.

Whether you’ve ever backed into a box or just watched from the stands, these stories remind us of something important — the cowboy way isn’t just about winning buckles. It’s about showing up, giving your all, and riding for the brand.

Well, before we finish up for this week, we’ve got one more thing.

Chapter 10. Buster the Bull and Cowboy Glossary Term of the Week

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the Bull means it’s time for the cowboy glossary term of the week. And this week’s term is Barrier. 

In timed events like calf roping and steer wrestling, the barrier is the rope or electronic line stretched across the front of the roping box. It gives the animal a head start before the cowboy can take off. Break it too soon and you’re looking at a 10-second penalty — which, in rodeo time, might as well be an hour. The barrier keeps things fair and puts the pressure squarely on the cowboy’s timing.

Chapter 11. Thanks for Listening

And with that we put a hooey on another episode for this week.

Thanks for riding along with me today, Way Out West.

If you enjoyed the show, tell a friend about Way Out West. and leave a review on your favorite podcast app. It’ll help more folks discover the stories, the history, and the cowboy way of life we’re keeping alive here every week.

This is Chip Schweiger reminding you to keep your heels down, your chin tucked, and hold on for a full 8 seconds.

We’ll see y’all down the road.