Ted Nuce

Bull Riding • Inducted 2009

The PRCA Rookie of the Year in 1980, when just a year out of Manteca (Calif.) High School, Ted Nuce competed in his first National Finals Rodeo at 21 and was as consistent as any bull rider of his era. Nuce won the world championship in 1985 and finished as reserve world champion four times, in 1986-88 and 1991, losing the 1987 title to Lane Frost by slightly more than $4,000. Nuce claimed his 1985 gold buckle by scoring a 90-point ride on Ivy’s No. 189 in the last round of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, pushing aside fellow ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Tuff Hedeman. Nuce qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in bull riding a record 14 consecutive years (1982-95) and shares the event record for total appearances (also 14) with Wacey Cathey. He won two gold medallions for the United States in the bull riding and team competitions in the 1988 Winter Olympic Command Performance Rodeo in Calgary, Alberta.

World Championships: 1

Bull Riding: 1985

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

Bull Riding: 1985

Rookie of the Year

Bull Riding: 1980

RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion

Bull Riding: 1996

RAM Circuit Year-End Champion

California Circuit:

Bull Riding: 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994

Born: January 19, 1961 in Manteca, California

Joined the PRCA: 1980

NFR Qualifications: 14

Clovis Rodeo / Clovis, CA
Bull Riding: 1986

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
Bull Riding: 1981

Dodge City Roundup / Dodge City, KS
Bull Riding: 1990

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
Bull Riding: 1983

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, TX
Bull Riding: 1990

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Bull Riding: 1995

Iowa’s Championship Rodeo / Sidney, IA
Bull Riding: 1988, 1993

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
Bull Riding: 1987 (tie)

Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Bull Riding: 1991, 1994

Redding Rodeo / Redding, CA
Bull Riding: 1983 (tie), 1991

Rowell Ranch Rodeo / Hayward, CA
Bull Riding: 1984

World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
Bull Riding: 1984