Skoal Pacific Bell

Background

Skoal Pacific Bell was born in 1981. he was a dark tan/black color with a big white face. He was a brangus bull who weighed 1,750 pounds (790 kg). Raised and owned throughout his career by stock contractor Dan Russell, Skoal Pacific Bell was born and raised on the Russell Ranch in Folsom, California. He earned the name Pacific Bell 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.”

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 80's and 90's. 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 Oklahoma. Danny, his son, is also a stock contractor.

Like the undefeated PRCA bull Red Rock, undefeated PBR bull Mick E. Mouse, barely ridden PBR bull Bushwacker and other such famous bulls, Skoal Pacific Bell showed that he had no set bucking pattern. The bull would toss his head side to side and could jump extremely high. 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.

Career

At the age of four, Skoal Pacific Bell began to buck, and 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 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 seven-time All Around rodeo champion, two-time Bull Riding World Champion, and "King of the Cowboys" Ty Murray. At the 1988 NFR, World Champion Jim Sharp logged an 85 point ride on Skoal Pacific Bell. It paved the way for one of Sharp's two World Championships. "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.” Skoal Pacific Bell also bucked off World Champions Michael Gaffney and Charles Sampson. World Champion Ted Nuce was awarded 83 points on him at the 1988 NFR. And then, at what was probably his last ride before retirement, 1998 PBR World Champion Troy Dunn rode him for 91 points at the 1991 NFR.

Death and legacy

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

Honors