ProRodeo Sports News - April 15, 2022

TIME CAPSULE FRECKLES BROWN

Freckles Brown’s career was highlighted by his ride on Tornado BY TRACY RENCK W arren Granger “Freckles” Brown enjoyed an amazing 37-year rodeo career – as a roughstock rider. He is the oldest cowboy, at the remarkable age of 41, to win a roughstock world championship, in bull riding in 1962. Brown’s career in rodeo began at age 16 – long before the National Finals Rodeo began – but he still competed at the NFR seven times (1959- 61, 1966-69), the last time at age 48. He remains the oldest qualifier for the Finals in a roughstock event. Brown won his only world championship in 1962, when he built a big enough lead in the bull riding standings to earn the gold buckle even though he couldn’t compete at the NFR. His neck was broken in a fall in Portland, Ore., in October 1962 and he accepted his championship saddle and buckle in Denver the next year while in a cast from his hips to the top of his head. Cowboy for the Ages PRCA ProRodeo file photos At age 46, Freckles Brown made the impossible possible, riding Tornado in Round 1 of the 1967 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, Okla.

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