Oscar History

The bloodline that is commonly known as the Oscar line, has created such famous bulls as Don Kish's #624 "Wolfman", Flying U's #97 "Whitewater Skoal", Dan Russell's A13 "Trick or Treat", Bucker's Inc. futurity Champion Bucking Bull "Satan's Own", and many others.

"Oscar" came from a man by the name of Bob Barmby, of Lockford, California. Bob Barmby took many of his bulls, including "Oscar", for training at Oscar Heard's place in Turlock, California. When the bulls were good enough, Barmby would take them to rodeos. "Oscar" was named after Oscar Heard. According to Jack Roddy, and Jeff Barmby "Oscar's" sire was a great bull named "Wirley Gig" that Barmby used to haul.

"Oscar" was rarely rode. He went unridden for the first five years of his bucking career in the PRCA. The first man to ride the unrideable bull was a man from Idaho, named John Davis. He covered "Oscar" at the California Rodeo in Salinas, California in July 1975. However the most memorable time, according to former bullfighter now announcer Ted Dwyer, was at the Grand National Rodeo when Donny Gay rode "Oscar" for 97 points in 1977. "Oscar" was then rode at the Oakdale Rodeo by Allen Jordan in 1978 for 96 points score. "Oscar" was a great bull but was not recognized from the rodeo world until the challenge between "Oscar" and Elias Arriolla, a Charro from Mexico. This event was captured in the documentary. "The Great American Cowboy". Elias was allowed to used two hands and only had to ride for five seconds. However, he met the fate of many others and fell short of the whistle. He lasted less than two seconds.

"Oscar" has been ridden only eight times out of three hundred outs. "Oscar" was retired to the PRCA Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was one of the original honorees from the 1979 dedications of the hall.

One of "Oscar's" son "Oscar II" aka "Oscar's Velvet", sold for $10,000.00 to Christensen Brothers Rodeo Co. "Oscar's Velvet" was the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year in 1983 and he is the sire of #97 "Whitewater Skoal".

Bob Barmby got his start in 1930, when he went to Texas and purchased five Brahman heifers. He was one of the first to start breeding bulls and horses for rodeos. "One of the best man I ever met." said Alex Naccarato. "He never had an enemy." stated Jeff Barmby. "Bob loved rodeo, loved to watch rodeo, and a real nice man." said Alex Naccarato. He was a visionary and a man beyond his time. He had a horse that was super rank named Springtime. Barmby's bulls had a reputation of bucking off great cowboys. They were so good that there were many rodeos where everyone would get a check for ground money.

Barmby has helped many top PRCA contractors, such as Cotton Rosser of Flying U, Dan Russell of Western Rodeo Inc., and John Growney of Growney Brothers Rodeo Company get started. He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1996. Bob Barmby sold his stock contracting company to Jack Roddy, Jack Sparrowk, and Bob Cook, which created RSC Inc. One year RSC took eleven bulls to the NFR and none of them were ridden. John Growney bought out RSC Inc. in the late 70's.

Don KIsh (Growney Brother's Rodeo) continued the "Oscar" line breeding after the purchase of RSC, Inc. Out of this great line came #624 "Wolfman" (Oscar's Grandson), and the famous "Wolfpack". "Wolfman" is said to be sired by "Fonzie", a son of "Oscar". Wade Leslie rode Wolfman for 100 points in 1991.

Don Kish and Growney Brother's Rodeo took nine "Wolfman" sons to the NFR in 2000.

There have been many breeders of the "Oscar" line but none has been as famous or as successful as Alex Naccarato. Naccarato got his start in 1985 with the purchase of thirteen daughters of "Oscar". In 1989-90, Christensen Brothers Rodeo Company sent "Oscar's Velvet" to put on Alex's cows. Then in 1992 Alex acquired "Oscar's Velvet".

Naccarato Bucking Bulls has created such great bulls as "#97 Whitewater", "A2 Rojo", " A9 "Copenhagen Lite", A13 "Trick or Treat", A14 "Alex", A17 "Predator", A20 "Candyman", A23 "Nitro", A25 "Time Machine", A41 "Quick Draw" and A45 "Wyatts Nightmare".