Skoal Pacific Bell

Pacific Bell was born in 1981.[1] he was a dark tan/black color with a big white face.[2] He was a brangus bull who weighed 1,750 pounds (790 kg) at the peak of his career.[2] Raised and owned throughout his career by stock contractor Dan Russell,[3] Pacific Bell was born and raised on the Russell Ranch in Folsom, California. He earned his name at age 4 after he began bucking and Russell noticed that "he liked to throw back his head while bucking as if he wanted to reach out and touch someone."[2]

Russell had a significant impact in the sport of bull riding. Dan owned and operated Western Rodeos, Inc., which he inherited from his father. The Russell family had been involved in the cattle industry since the Civil War. The co-founders of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) rode Russell's stock throughout the 1980s and 90s. Bullfighters for the PBR and PRCA such as Rob Smets, Shorty Gorham, and Joe Baumgartner started their careers working at events in California where Russell provided stock. Russell was particularly well-remembered for his involvement with rodeo in Salinas, California. Since 2002, he lived with his wife Linda in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Danny, his son, is also a stock contractor.[4]

Like the undefeated PRCA bull Red Rock, undefeated PBR bull Mick E. Mouse,[5] barely ridden PBR bull Bushwacker and other such famous bulls, Pacific Bell showed that he had no set bucking pattern.[2] The bull would toss his head side to side and could jump extremely high.[2] His bucking abilities made it extremely difficult for cowboys to determine what the bull was going to do and get a qualified ride from him.[2]

At the age of four, Pacific Bell began to buck. As his career progressed, he became sponsored by the Skoal tobacco company, thus becoming known as Skoal Pacific Bell. He became the top bull at the 1987 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for bucking off Rickey Lindsey and Dale Johansen. While the bull was part of the PRCA circuit, he bucked off cowboy after cowboy, including many of the best bull riders of the time. These included 1987 PRCA World Champion Lane Frost, who was the only cowboy to ride 1987 Bucking Bull of the Year Red Rock (which he did after Red Rock's retirement, in the Challenge of the Champions). Then came three-time world champion and rider of "the most dangerous bull ever" Bodacious, Tuff Hedeman. Skoal Pacific Bell also bucked off "King of the Cowboys" Ty Murray. At the 1988 NFR, future World Champion Jim Sharp logged an 85 point ride on Skoal Pacific Bell. It paved the way for one of Sharp's two PRCA world championships.[2] "He’s a bull that’s quick and kicks really high and spins real fast,” Sharp later told reporters. “He just bucks hard. It’s a combination of everything that makes him so good. He does it all.”[2] Skoal Pacific Bell also bucked off 1982 PRCA World Champion Charles Sampson and future PBR World Champion Michael Gaffney.[6][7] World Champion Ted Nuce was awarded 83 points on him at the 1988 NFR.[8]

At the 1991 NFR, future PBR World Champion Troy Dunn rode him for 91 points. Then in February 1993, Skoal Pacific Bell gave 1992 PRCA World Champion Cody Custer a concussion and a laceration to his chin at Bullnanza in Guthrie, Oklahoma.[9] At the 1993 Bull Riders Only (BRO) World Championship in Long Beach, California, he was successfully ridden in the Championship Round by Buddy Gulden for 81 points. This was Skoal Pacific Bell’s last known professional out.[10]

Skoal Pacific Bell died in late 1993.[1][3] The bull never lived to see his 2007 induction into the hall of fame.[3][4] Russell died on December 29, 2013[4] of a heart attack at age 61 in his home near Henryetta, Oklahoma.[11] He was known for raising and owning many champion bulls in the PRCA, including Trick or Treat, Pacific Bell, and Grasshopper, the last two of whom won the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year title at least once.[4][11]

• Skoal Pacific Bell (2007 Hall of Fame Inductee) Official PRCA YouTube video
• Pacific Bell 1988 NFR Ted Nuce.MP4 YouTube Video
• Skoal Pacific Bell vs Charles Sampson - 90 Rodeo Salinas YouTube video