Bobby Tull – Missoula Rodeo Casualty
Bobby Tull – Missoula Rodeo Casualty
The following is taken from Rodeo – The Suicide Trail by H. Lee Hames – published in 1999:
“Another event that had become a part of every Cremer rodeo was the mad scramble. Several head of bucking stock, usually one saddle bronc, two bareback broncs and two Brahma bulls were turned out of the chutes at once. There was no effort made to pick up any of the riders: everyone escaped with his life any way they could. Each rider was paid mount money for doing this. Bobby Tull was killed in the mad scramble at Missoula, Montana, when he was bucked off and trampled by a Brahma bull.
“Cremer had two bulls that were so mean and difficult to ride that most cowboys refused to ride them in the regular bull riding, so he used them mostly for “exhibitions.” Cremer paid mount money to any cowboy who would come out of the chute on one of them plus so much for every second the cowboy stayed on the bull’s back. Whenever a bull rider got a little short of cash, he could always earn a few bucks by trying one of these bulls, but very few of them ever made much money as these bulls were really mean and double tough. The bulls were named Black Devil and Sky High.”
Robert Tull’s short life story (see below) is memorialized online at Rootsweb:
Robert Anson Tull 1917 Alpha Vllage, ND
Born 18 January 1916 in Alpha Village, Golden Valley County, North Dakota. Robert was the second son and 4th child born to Eugene Follett Tull and wife Luella Edna Cameron.
He was born to ranch life, and horses. His father Eugene raised and sold horses, and Robert was training them at an early age. He loved to participate in local rodeos, and no one could keep him from the danger of riding the Brahma bulls.
When he was about 13, his parents separated, with his father Eugene moving west, settling in Montana. We do not know where Robert was between 1920 and 1930. Not found with his mother, father or older brother.
Married to Iva Jane McKinney 18 March 1935 Hamilton, Ravalli County, Montana. They were the parents of one child, Barbara Jean.
On the 20 of August, in a Missoula City rodeo, coming out of the chute his chaps caught on something, and he was thrown from the Brahma he was attempting to ride for the allotted minutes. Caught unaware, the lifesaving clowns were too far away from Robert to catch the bull’s attention before it stomped full force on the chest of its thrown off rider. Fatally injured, with lungs punctured by his ribs, he lingered 20 days until he died in the Missoula Hospital – 7 September 1937. He was 21 years, 7 months. Robert left a 19 year-old wife and one the child, Barbara.
He died 7 September 1937, Missoula, Montana and is buried in Missoula Cemetery. His father, Eugene rests beside him.
His brother told Barbara that Robert rode in a rodeo in Madison Square Garden at the age of 18. His life was horses. Training them, and working with them at a well-known Dude Ranch in Montana. He put his baby daughter on a horse before she learned to walk, delighted when the child showed no fear.
Donated by Barbara Tull Dehle