Ted Nuce was born January 19, 1961, in French Camp, California. When he was 5 years old his parents bought him a pony that he rode bareback; when he was 10 he began working at a stable near his home. At the age of 15 Nuce attended Larry Mahan’s bull riding school, and soon after attended Gary Leffew’s.
After joining the PRCA, Nuce was named 1980 Rookie of the Year. In 1985 — the NFR’s first year in Las Vegas — he was the World Bull Riding Champion. In 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1991 he was the Reserve World Champion. Nuce was also a two-time Gold Medalist at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, and winner of the 1994 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) finals. He qualified for the NFR in bull riding an astonishing 14 consecutive times — a record he still holds to this day. He also had a record 18 go-round wins in bull riding from 1982–1995.
Outside of the arena, Nuce is as much a champion for bull riding as he is a champion within. In April 1992, he was one of the original 20 co-founders of the PBR. He is also a PBR Ring of Honor member and a 2009 inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. An advocate for underprivileged youth, Nuce and his wife, Stephanie, live in Stephenville, Texas.
