DUNCAN, Okla. – It’s been more than 25 years since Lane Frost was killed during the final round of the 1989 Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo.
He was a world champion bull rider and a fan-favorite who held a glimmering personality and a loving nature despite the rough-and-tumble sport in which he competed. He also was a man of God, which is what brings the greatest joy to his parents, Clyde and Elsie Frost. It’s a message they share with countless others as they tell tales of their inspiring son.
It’s a message Elsie Frost will share during the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo banquet, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Simmons Center in Duncan. A portion of the proceeds will go toward a local youth shelter.
“We’re very excited to have Elsie speak at our banquet,” said Joe Henderson, chairman of the committee that produces the regional finals rodeo, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16-18 at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center in Duncan. “She has such a powerful message regarding faith and perseverance, and it’s something we all look forward to any time we get the chance.”
The life of Lane Frost was played out in the 1992 movie “8 Seconds,” though Hollywood took a few liberties with the final script. Still, the movie continues to be a driving force for many young people who continue to idolize the bull rider, even two and a half decades after his death.
Since that fateful day, lane Frost’s friends and fellow bull riders continued his legacy through the creation of stand-alone bull riding organizations Professional Bull Riders and Championship Bull Riding. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, for which Lane Frost was the 1987 world champion bull rider, also has created the Xtreme Bulls Tour, a series of stand-alone bull riding events that count toward PRCA world standings.
As Lane Frost’s legacy continues to grow, his memory serves as a great reminder of what faith and a champion’s heart mean in the world today. Elsie Frost will make sure of that.