Coleman will join PBR Ring of Honor

PUEBLO, Colo. - The Professional Bull Riders is pleased to announce that Ross Coleman will be inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor. The induction will be part of the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration on Oct. 23 at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. The Celebration will also include the presentation of the Sharon Shoulders Award, the Brand of Honor, and the Jim Shoulders Award.

"This is the coolest thing," Coleman said. "It is a big deal for me. My first goal was to ride in the PBR. I was then fortunate enough to be able to compete against the world's best bull riders for many years. Now, to be selected to join the Ring of Honor - that is a tremendous honor and something you dream of accomplishing in any sport."

Coleman retired in 2011 after competing for 13 seasons on the Built Ford Tough Series, and qualifying for the Built Ford Tough World Finals 12 times from 1999-2010. He made history as the first rider to compete in 300 BFTS events, record 800 outs, and earn 400 qualified rides. He set a PBR record for money earned on a single ride in 2001, when he won $100,000 for riding Tuff-E-Nuff in a bonus round at Columbus, Ohio. He became the 10th rider in history to earn $1 million, and is currently ranked 14th in career earnings with more than $1.4 million.

"We are honored to welcome Ross Coleman as the newest member of the Ring of Honor," said PBR Chairman and CEO Jim Haworth. "Ross was an exemplary bull rider, and even after his retirement he has continued to be a tremendous ambassador for our sport."

He is the founder and host of the Ross Coleman Invitational in his hometown of Molalla, Ore., which riders have voted the best Touring Pro Division event four times. Since its beginning in 2005, it has raised more than $200,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon, which presented Coleman with its Katie's Star Award in 2008. The event has also been honored as the Oregon Festival and Events Association Sporting Event of the Year.

"This is the coolest thing. It's a big deal for me."

Coleman won the all-around title at the College National Finals Rodeo in 1998, while on scholarship at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and won national high school bull riding and all-around titles in 1997.

"Ross is a great all-around cowboy, and if he chose to compete in rodeo instead of the PBR, he would have shined in several events. But he wanted to ride against the very best on the biggest stage in bull riding," said PBR Founder and Livestock Director Cody Lambert, who was inducted into the Ring of Honor as a member of the inaugural class in 1996.

"Ross can rope and ride or do anything that has to do with being a cowboy. He is so tough that even when things aren't going right, he can still get the job done. Ross was always an inspiration to everyone in the locker room. It was not about excuses, but about getting the job done, and that's what cowboys do."

Coleman is currently is VIP Sales & Services for Back Seat Buckers (www.BackSeatBuckers.com), and is also a member of Ford Invasion (www.FordInvasion.com). Back Seat Buckers is an American Bucking Bull, Inc., program that allows anyone the opportunity to become involved as a stock contractor. Coleman joins Brendon Clark, Luke Snyder, Colby Yates and Dickies® DuraBullfighter Shorty Gorham as part of the Built Ford Tough Invasion, which takes fans behind the scenes as a Ford Truck makes the ultimate road trip across America. 

The PBR Ring of Honor was created in 1996 to recognize those who have had the most profound impact on bull riding, both in and out of the arena. The 35 members share a common bond of courage, strength and victory. They have shown their dedication and support while playing a significant role in helping professional bull riding become what it is today. Honorees include the great Jim Shoulders, PBR founding fathers Ty Murray and Cody Lambert, three-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes, two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride, and PBR World Champions Troy Dunn and Michael Gaffney. The Ring of Honor, the PBR's equivalent of a Hall of Fame, is more than a fellowship: Each inductee is presented with a ring handcrafted of diamonds and gold bearing the PBR logo, the recipient's name and the year he was honored.

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is the official host hotel of the PBR Legends Reunion. The special event on Oct. 23-24 will again officially begin the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals. Fans will have an opportunity to meet their favorite riders, as every rider who has competed since the PBR began has been invited to Las Vegas.

PBR Founders and Ring of Honor members who are confirmed to attend include Clint Branger, Cody Custer, Jerome Davis, David Fournier, Lambert, Scott Mendes, Murray, Aaron Semas and Jim Sharp.

PBR World Champions scheduled to attend and who will participate in a special interactive session with fans are Cody Hart (1999), Chris Shivers (2000 and 2003), Ednei Caminhas (2002), Mike Lee (2004), Guilherme Marchi (2008), Kody Lostroh (2009), Renato Nunes (2010) and Silvano Alves (2011). For more information on the PBR Legends Reunion, including an up-to-date list of confirmed attendees, please visit Reunion.PBR.com.

The PBR will host a golf tournament to benefit Special Olympics Nevada on Oct. 23 from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. The PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration Reception will be held from 6-7 p.m. at South Point Las Vegas, and will be immediately followed by the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration from 7-8:30 p.m. The ceremony will include the induction of the 2012 Ring of Honor members, and the presentation of the Brand of Honor, the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award and the Sharon Shoulders Award. The South Point Arena and Equestrian Center will host the ABBI Back Seat Buckers Finals with performances at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Following the Back Seat Buckers performances, South Point Las Vegas will host the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals Kickoff Party.

Past riders will join the competitors in the 2012 World Finals for the Ultimate PBR Bull Rider Meet & Greet on Oct. 24 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at South Point Las Vegas. Prior to the Meet & Greet from 10-11 a.m., fans will have the opportunity to hear PBR World Champions talk about what it is like to earn the belt buckle that every bull rider dreams of obtaining.

The Brand of Honor and the Jim Shoulders Award were each presented for the first time in 2011. The Brand of Honor is awarded to a bull for exemplary performance, while the Jim Shoulders Award recognizes a non-bull rider who has made a significant contribution to the sport.

Created by the PBR Board of Directors in 2009 to honor women who have made a difference in the life of a bull rider and contributed to the sport, the Sharon Shoulders Award honors its namesake for her support and encouragement of her late husband, Jim Shoulders, the celebrated cowboy and bull rider who was inducted as a member of the first class in the PBR Ring of Honor in 1996.

PBR Legends Reunion ticket packages are now available for $175, a savings of $150. The package includes tickets to the PBR Heroes & Legends Reception, the PBR Heroes & Legends Induction Ceremony, the ABBI Back Seat Buckers Finals, the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals Kickoff Party, the PBR World Champions Forum and the PBR Ultimate Meet & Greet. The package also includes VIP access to the PBR World Finals Pre-Party at the Cox Pavilion and tickets for Rounds 1 and 2 of the PBR World Finals on Oct. 24 and 25.

Fans that have already purchased tickets for the PBR World Finals can purchase a PBR Legends Reunion add-on package for $100, a savings of $155. The package includes tickets to the PBR Heroes & Legends Reception, the PBR Heroes & Legends Induction Ceremony, the ABBI Back Seat Buckers Finals, the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals Kickoff Party, the PBR World Champions Forum, the PBR Ultimate Meet & Greet and VIP access to the PBR World Finals Pre-Party at the Cox Pavilion.

Legends Reunion ticket packages can be purchased now at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, www.UNLVTickets.com, and by telephone at (866) PBR-SHOW.

The World Finals are where the PBR World Champion will be crowned and awarded the coveted championship buckle and a $1 million bonus. The richest bull riding event in the world, the World Finals has a total purse of more than $2 million.

The World Finals are Oct. 24-28 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Bull riding begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available now at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, www.UNLVTickets.com, and by telephone at (866) PBR-SHOW.

South Point Las Vegas is offering special room rates of $65 and $105 until Aug. 31. To redeem the special rate, please telephone (866) 791-7626 and use the code FAN1021, or Click Here.

PBR Legends Reunion Tentative Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 23
7 a.m.-2 p.m.               PBR Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting Nevada Special Olympics (separate cost)
4-5:30 p.m.                  ABBI Back Seat Buckers Finals - Section 1
6-7 p.m.                       PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration Reception (Refreshments/Hors d' Oeuvres)
7-8:30 p.m.                  PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration
9-10:30 p.m.                ABBI Back Seat Buckers Finals - Section 2

Wednesday, Oct. 24
10-11 a.m.                   PBR World Champions Forum at South Point Las Vegas
11 a.m.-1 p.m.             Ultimate PBR Bull Rider Meet & Greet
4-6 p.m.                       PBR World Finals Pre-Party at the Cox Pavilion
6 p.m.                          Round 1 of PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals

Thursday, Oct. 25
4-6 p.m.                       PBR World Finals Pre-Party at the Cox Pavilion
6 p.m.                          Round 2 of PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals

About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world's premier bull riding organization. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the PBR. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has become a global sports phenomenon that is televised worldwide. More than 100 million viewers annually watch primetime PBR programming on networks around the world including CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, and NBC Sports Network. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 25 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million - the most of any Western-sports athlete in history. Nearly 2 million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/PBR.