b'By Bob Roloff,The Arizona DuuudeI Haught, a guide to Zane Grey. Adding met Frank and Tammy just by chance one morning at my unofficial office, the counter at Rock Spring\'sto this impressive family tree, she Caf. I use this as my coffee, breakfast, texting, email,is married to a former Professional and phone calls time. I\'m on the road most of the day soRodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) mornings at the Rock" are my in the office time.bull rider, Frank Machine Gun" Kelly. You will hear more about Frank, and After living in Arizona for over 60 years I have acquired ahis son Hunter, (who is nowunique knack for recognizing a real Arizonan. Frank andmaking his mark as a Tammy were sitting at a table nearby and they had thatbull rider) in part two we\'ve been in Arizona a long time look. They smiled andnext month. nodded so I picked up my Arizona Duuude coffee cup and pulled up a chair. Little did I know that this chanceBack when Frank and meeting would turn into a two-part story, and what aGary Leffew (1970 story. Thats why I like my mornings at the Rock Spring\'sWorld Champion Bull Caf. I never know who I\'ll meet up with next.Rider) had a bull riding school in Phoenix, When Tammy Kelly walks into a western clothing orFrank and Tammy feed & tack store, most people know who she is. They arehad dated a few times. proud to meet her and happy for a chance to talk withShe was doing theDuring the 1990s Tammy her, and maybe lucky enough to have her sign a piece ofaccounting books forKelly dominated womens rodeo memorabilia. You see, Tammy is a Professionalthem. After watchingbull riding.Woman\'s Rodeo Association (PWRA) six-time Worldsome of the guys ride, she told Frank, I can do that." Champion Bull Rider. If you are not a rodeo fan, youNow Tammy had ridden in some junior rodeos and may never have heard of the PWRA or a women\'s bullwas quite a rodeo hand but bull riding? Well, shefor Tammy. Not only would there be thousands of fans riding champion, but the PWRA is in its 73rd season.got on a bull and rode him, and from that time onlooking on, but she would be riding a mens National Womens bull riding has been a staple of the organizationFrank and everyone knew Tammy could do it. TammyFinals Rodeo bull. Women\'s bull riding is different than since its inception. During the 1990s Tammy Kellywanted to ride bulls plus she had the determinationmen\'s competition. Women have to stay on a bull for dominated the event, winning five consecutive worldand the ability. Tammy was in great shape but sheseven seconds, not eight, and the bulls are typical of titles from 1994 to 1998, then coming back to win againstarted on an exercise program prescribed by Frank.what they bring to high school and college rodeos for in 2002 at age 41.Tammy trained and rode all the bulls in Franksmen. They are not as rank as PRCA or Professional Bull string. Then at 32 years of age, she started riding theRiders stock.This was the National Finals Rodeo. The Tammy didn\'t start riding bulls until she was 32 yearsbulls in rodeos, and never looked back, winning fivebucking bulls were the best in the world. Tammy would old and had moved from Payson to Queen Creek. Sheconsecutive world titles. Then she took a little time off,come out of the chute on one of those bulls. The bull was born in Payson and raised in Gisela and Paysonnot attending as many rodeos so she could spend morewould be Snappy." To Tammy, a bull was a bull. She where she attended school. She is the granddaughter oftime with her two children. In 2002 Tammy came backwould ride any National Finals Rodeo bull they cared Normand Winters, a tough Rim Country Cowboy. Sheto win her sixth World Championship in Fort Worth,to trot out to her, including Snappy. When the gate is also a great-granddaughter of Anderson Lee Babe"Texas at the age of 41. opened, few people expected Tammy to stay aboard Snappy for more than two jumps. Many feared that she There are twowould be seriously hurt.Tammy nodded her head. The things that Frankgate swung open, and she rode a jumping, twisting, is very proud of.renowned National Finals bull to the buzzer, stayed on The first is thatfor a couple more jumps, then threw a leg over Snappy\'s Tammy held downshoulder and landed on her feet with a perfect standing a 40-hour a weekdismount. She stood in place and tipped her hat to job during thethe crowd. The fans gave Tammy a raucous standing five consecutiveovation. Later the stock contractor told Tammy, It\'s years that she rodetoo bad that was an exhibition. You made the bestbulls to a worldride of the day. You would have won day moneychampionship.hands down.She was also a wife and mother, theTammy is retired from active participation in rodeo and glue that held thelives in Queen Creek, Arizona. She and husband Frank family together.have two daughters, Tera and Frankie and along with The second isson, Hunter they continue to run a bull riding school.that Tammy was invited to ride anMuch of this information is taken from a story by Jayne exhibition bull atPeace & Jinx Pyle, in Explore the Wild- Discover Gila the National FinalsCounty. The rest is from visiting with Frank & Tammy. Rodeo in Las Vegas.Part Two will be Frank Kelly\'s story of rodeos, hunting, This would be noand his part in a classic rodeo movie. He has some great ordinary bull ridestories to tell. The Arizona Duuude with Tammy and Frank KellyArizonaRealCountry.com June 2021 17'