And now, that story—and the man behind it—has been brought to life in a powerful new release: The Ride: The Most Improbable Life of Freckles Brown, a Bull Named Tornado, and the Most Historic Eight Seconds in Rodeo, written by Ron J. Jackson Jr.

Despite the book’s title, I can tell this – it goes far beyond eight seconds.

It dives into the life of Warren Granger “Freckles” Brown, the 1962 World Champion bull rider, and a man whose journey was built on survival, faith, and treating people the right way.

Born in Wyoming during the Great Depression as the youngest of six children, Freckles didn’t grow up chasing a dream. He grew up chasing a way to make it through another day. From picking potatoes to working dairy farms, from riding the rails to finding his way to Arizona at 16 years old to climb on his first bull in 1937 – this is a story about a man who earned everything the hard way.

And that’s exactly what makes this book different.

Even if you’ve never watched a bull ride in your life, this book is a story you can connect with. Because it’s not just about rodeo. It’s about a different era, a different kind of toughness and a different way of living.

It takes the reader through the Great Depression, World War II, and beyond – in a firsthand look at what life was really like during those times, and how a man like Freckles Brown not only survived it but rose above it.

The ride that changed everything

December 1, 1967.

At the National Finals Rodeo, a 46-year-old cowboy climbs into chute No. 2.

On the other side stands a bull owned by Jim Shoulders—the Babe Ruth of rodeo himself.

That bull was Tornado – unridden for seven years.

What happened next didn’t just make history – it helped shape the future of the sport.

Freckles Brown became the first man in seven years to ride Tornado, and in doing so, created a moment that still echoes through bull riding today.

But what this book does so well is show you everything that led up to that moment – and everything that came after.

There are moments in it that will make you laugh, like learning that during his time in the war, Freckles was known as the “champion mule rider of China.”

And then there are moments that take you deeper into the man himself.

One story that stands out involves Myrtis Dightman, the first Black man to ever make the National Finals Rodeo. When he asked Freckles what it would take to become a world champion, Freckles – known for his quick wit – told him, “Keep doing what you’re doing and turn white.”

It’s a line that reflects both the humor of the time and the reality of the era – and it’s those kinds of honest, unfiltered moments that give this book its authenticity.

Reading that story brought back a memory of my own.

Years ago, in 2008, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, I had the honor of being around legends of the sport – Larry Mahan, Clyde Frost, Hadley Barrett, and even meeting Myrtis himself.

I’ll never forget walking with Clyde, looking for a place to sit down for an interview, when Myrtis passed by. They shook hands, exchanged respect, and kept moving. A few steps later, Clyde smiled and shared that same story about Freckles.

And just like that, after reading it again in this book, those memories came flooding back.

That’s what this book does – it connects generations.

A love story worth telling

For all the grit, danger, and history in this book, one of the most powerful parts of this book isn’t found in an arena.

It’s found in the life Freckles built with his wife, Edith Brown, who was there through every high and every low, every mile on the road, every bruise, every triumph.

The way this book captures that love reminds you that behind every great cowboy is a life built away from the crowd on loyalty, sacrifice, and commitment.

Freckles didn’t just love the sport. He loved his wife.

And that part of his story deserves just as much respect as anything he ever did in the arena.

A legacy that lives on

Beyond being a great rider Freckles Brown was a mentor, a friend, and a man who helped shape those who came after him.

His relationship with Lane Frost is a perfect example.

In 1987, Lane told Freckles he was going to win the world title for him – and he did.

More than friendship, their bond was something deeper, reflecting the heart of this sport.

Today, they rest side by side at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma.

And that tells you everything you need to know.

About the author

Ron J. Jackson Jr. is a veteran journalist and accomplished author with a career spanning more than 40 years. He has built a reputation for capturing real-life stories with depth, accuracy, and respect for the people who lived them. In this book, he does exactly that – bringing Freckles Brown’s story to life in a way that feels both historically grounded and deeply personal.

You can purchase his book about Freckles Brown by clicking HERE.

Want to hear the story in another way? Listen to “Freckles Brown” by Red Steagall.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media