When he was two, he was sold to Mert Hunking, an amateur rodeo stock contractor. Mert knew right away, Red Rock was different from the other bulls, he said he was smart, he could sense what a bullrider was going to do, and he would go the opposite way, throwing cowboys off, usually on the first turn out of the chute. And, unlike the other bulls, Red Rock wouldn't go after the bullrider, he would just turn around and head for the stripping chute.

Mert found out that Red Rock had cancer and he wanted Red Rock to have a good home. He offered to sell Red Rock to Growney Brothers because he liked the way they took care of their livestock. John bought Red Rock sight unseen. He knew Red Rock from his reputation as an unridable bull, as well as his being uncommonly gentle. The first time John set eyes on him was when they unloaded him in Red Bluff, and it was then, in 1984, that he became part of Growney Brothers Rodeo Company's bucking string.

From 1984 through 1987, Red Rock bucked off every bull rider who tried him - 309 attempts altogether. Among those were Cody Lambert, Wacey Cathey, Cody Custer, Charlie Needham, Gary Toole - all NFR qualifiers, as well as Charles Sampson - World Champion Bull Rider 1982, Cody Snyder - World Champion Bull Rider 1983, Ted Nuce - World Champion Bull Rider 1985, Tuff Hedeman - World Champion Bull Rider 1986, 89, 91 and of course Lane Frost - World Champion Bull Rider 1987.

Every bullrider wanted a chance to try Red Rock - because he was a great bucking bull and because they knew he wouldn't come after them. He won't step on bull riders or hook them once they're off, unlike most other bulls. He has so much character in him. He has all the character of a well-mannered person. Each of those four years he was chosen to go to the National Finals Rodeo. In 1987, Red Rock was awarded the title of Bucking Bull of the Year. At the end of the Finals in 1987, Red Rock was retired from competition. There had been much publicity about Red Rock's impending retirement going into the Finals, and that he was the 1987 Bucking Bull of the Year.

Lane Frost and John Growney had visited at the Finals that year and early the next Spring it was decided that there would be a series of matches at seven different rodeos. It was called The Challenge of the Champions - Red Rock vs. Lane Frost - the two 1987 World Champions going one on one.

The first of the Challenges was in Red Bluff and the crowd was clearly routing for their hometown bull. Lane was bucked off into the dirt.

The second match was in Clovis, CA, where again, Red Rock bucked Lane off. By the Redding Rodeo, Lane had studied videotapes over and over and had consulted with his bull rider friends on how he could possibly stay on. That Friday night there wasn't a seat left in the house, and when Red Rock blew out of the chute, Lane stayed with him. As the crowd held it's breath, Lane covered Red Rock jump for jump, and at the end of eight seconds, Lane Frost had ridden Red Rock.

The next match was at Livermore, California, and once again, Lane's studying and working out paid off. He rode him and the score was 2-2. The next day, when the next match was held in Sisters, Oregon, Lane again rode Red Rock and regained the lead. St. Paul, Oregon was the site of the next match, over July 4th and Lane was bucked off, so they went into the final match in Spanish Fork, UT with the score at 3-3.

At Spanish Fork, July 25, 1988, Lane again rode Red Rock to win the Challenge of the Champions 4-3. Lane said of the Challenge "I was glad it was over. I'd do it again, but I sure was glad it was over. Out there in the arena after I got off I thought 'One of the greatest things in rodeo is over.' You know, it was something everyone could understand. The general public could understand it and knew what was happening all the way through. Everybody can understand one on one. One of the greatest things that's happened in rodeo in a long time had just happened to be Me and Red Rock."

The Challenge had been covered by more media than any other event in rodeo history. Among those were The George Michael Sports Machine, ProRodeo Sports News, USA Today and Sports Illustrated, not to mention countless regional publications. Lane Frost and Red Rock became heroes across the country.

Lane Frost tragically died in the arena at Cheyenne Frontier Days from an injury sustained after he rode a bull named Taking Care of Business in July of 1989.

In 1990, both Lane and Red Rock were inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Red Rock was the third bucking bull ever to attain that honor. The others were Tornado and Oscar. Red Rock attended the induction ceremonies.

Soon after Lane's death, the Frost family was approached about doing a movie about Lane's life. The movie "8 Seconds" made it's debut in February of this year to favorable reviews. In it, Red Rock was portrayed by several bulls and the Challenge sites were moved to Texas and pared down from seven to three, but John Growney got to play himself - for about a minute.

Red Rock served as a great ambassador for Growney Brothers Rodeo Company and for the sport of rodeo. He made appearances at numerous functions, schools and fund-raisers all over Northern California, he was the spokesbull for a local radio station, he has graced T-Shirts and had songs written about him like "Red Rock" by the Smokin' Armadillos from Bakersfield.

In his last years, Red Rock reigned over his own pasture, was pampered by his neighbors, Clarence and Diane, who regularly curried him and made sure he got his grain, and he received visitors from all over the country.

Butch Kirby tried him at St. Paul in 1984

Cody Lambert Tried him in Ellensburg shortgo 1984 and Cedarville in June 1987.

Charlie Needham
Tried him at Livermore in June 1984 and Redding in May 1987.

Wacey Cathey
Tried him in Reno in 1985.

Charles Sampson - World Champion Bull Rider 1982
Attempted him at NFR 84 OKC

Cody Snyder - World Champion Bull Rider 1983
Attempted him at NFR 84 OKC.

Ted Nuce - World Champion Bull Rider 1985 -
Attempted him at the 1986 NFR in the 10th go
Red Rock kept him from being the World Champion in 1986

Tuff Hedeman - World Champion Bull Rider 1986, 89, 91
Attempted him in Portland in 1985 - a World's Toughest Rodeo

Lane Frost - World Champion Bull Rider 1987
Tried him twice - at 1985 and in the 6th go at the 1986 NFR
Red Rock kept Lane from riding all 10 bulls and from being the world
Champ in 1986, when Tuff was. He did win the average in 1986

Gary Toole Tried him at the 6th go of the 1987 NFR and at a Reno ProTour.

Ricky Bolin
Reno Pro-Tour

Cody Custer Was the last person to have Red Rock in pro competition - it was in the 10th
go at the 1987 NFR.

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