OKLAHOMA CITY – Freckles Brown had already distinguished himself as one of the best bull riders in rodeo by the time the National Finals Rodeo came to town in 1965.
Six years before, h qualified for the first four NFRs – three in Dallas and one in Las Angeles – and earned the 1962 world championship. In all, he made the finale eight times, but his most memorable occurred in 1967, the third year the PRCA’s premier event was held at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City.
During that affair, Brown rode the Jim Shoulders bull Tornado, becoming the first cowboy to master eight seconds on the beast that had dumped 200 world-class bull riders befoe. Brown ended that NFR as the average champion, having bested the top 15 men in the field.
Oh, and he was 46 years old.
He’s one of many greats that competed in the complex now known as Jim Norick Arena who have been inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and the Rodeo Hall of Fame that’s part of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Brown’s 1967 feat is often recalled as one of the most incredible things to have happened in the sport’s history. Another chapter to that book will happen later this week with the final PRCA event ever to take place in Jim Norick Arena, the Oklahoma City ProRodeo, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the historic Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.
Brown wrapped his career with four straight trips to NFR in that legendary building – his final year to compete at the grand finale was 1969. He was inducted into the ProRodeo hall in 1979 and the Oklahoma City hall in 1986.
Dean Oliver, who competed at 18 NFRs, won the first all-around championship crowned at State Fair Arena in 1965; it was his third. Larry Mahan won the bull riding title that season and added the all-around crown the next year. In all, Mahan won eight gold buckles – six in the all-around (1966-70 and ’73) and two in bull riding (1965-67) – and it all happened at the fairgrounds.
Roping superstar Leo Camarillo won five world titles and all but the 1983 team roping championship happened at Jim Norick Arena. Saddle bronc rider Shawn Davis – who spent three decades as general manager of the NFR – won three gold buckles at the fairgrounds (1965, ’67-’68). Roy Duvall of Checotah, Oklahoma, still owns the record for NFR qualifications with 24, including 21 straight from 1966-86; all of his gold buckles (1967, ’69 and ’72) were in that building.
Oklahoma hand Tom Ferguson won nine world championships, and all but the 1979 all-around crown were secured at State Fair Arena. Texan Don Gay is one of the top bull riding broadcasters of his generation, but he was best known for his eight bull riding titles. He won the first four at State Fair Arena, then won the other four when the NFR moved across town to the Myriad.
The state’s capital city set a standard for rodeo royalty during its place as the 20-year home of the sport’s premier event. It’s legacy is firmly in place, and the tales from Jim Norick Arena will hold strong years after the final piece of the building hits the ground this spring.