Mason Lowe (September 12, 1993 – January 15, 2019) was an American professional
rodeo
Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working va ...
cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...
who specialized in
bull riding, and competed in the
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit. He was ranked 18th in the PBR world standings at the time of his death.
Early life
Mason Lowe was born in
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an estimat ...
, on September 12, 1993, to Stacy Lowe and Melissa Reed. He grew up in
Exeter, Missouri
Exeter is a city in Exeter Township, Barry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 772 at the 2010 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
History
Exeter was platt ...
.
His interest in bull riding started as a toddler; when he was three years old he rode the milk calves on his family farm.
He participated in junior rodeos, and skipped high school rodeos to enter the amateur bull riding aged fifteen, competing throughout the Midwest. About this choice, he said he sometimes regretted not participating at high school level, but also believed that he was more prepared for professional tours thanks to the amateur competitions.
Watching the PBR growing up, he named
Chris Shivers as his role model.
Professional career
Lowe got his PBR card as soon as he turned eighteen,
and started participating in tour circuits in the 2015 season, where he advanced to the PBR World Finals and earned $102,000.
In his initial competitions, he was placed at 164th in the world.
He suffered a wrist injury between seasons, in the summer of 2016.
At the start of his second season, he was considered one of the talented up-and-coming riders in contention with the veteran riders.
It was at the start of this season in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...
, that he got his first 90-point ride, staying on
Bruiser for 91 points. Towards the middle of his second season he had a run without placing in the top ten in six straight competitions, but in the seventh competition, he placed first at
Albuquerque
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
, taking his first win at a
Built Ford Tough Series competition.
After that, he did not compete over the winter, spending time in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
to prevent injury, and returned in February 2017 at the
Sprint Center in his home state of Missouri, being ranked 12th in the world at the start of 2017.
At the Iron Cowboy competition in February 2017 at the
AT&T Stadium
AT&T Stadium, formerly Cowboys Stadium, is a retractable roof, retractable-roof stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. It serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), and was completed on May 27, 2009. I ...
in
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. ...
, Lowe became only the second rider to complete a ride on
Smooth Operator
"Smooth Operator" is a song by English band Sade from their debut studio album, ''Diamond Life'' (1984). It was released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom as a 7-inch single with "Spirit" as its B-side, and as a 12-inch maxi ...
in competition, with a 90.75 point ride, moving to 9th in world rankings. In early June 2017 he suffered a small injury from a completed ride, leaving him limping for a while but not interfering with his competition schedule. He won his next ride with another 8-second stay in the two-round competition, at the 14th J.W. Hart PBR Challenge. This feat moved him up to be 11th in the world. In the 2017 season he earned over $110,000 but by the start of the 2018 season, he had dropped back to be ranked 14th in the world.
Lowe always enjoyed competing near home.
He qualified for the PBR World Finals three times (2015–2017) but failed to qualify in 2018, his last full season.
Death
Lowe was competing at a PBR Velocity Tour event at the
Denver Coliseum as part of the
National Western Stock Show
The National Western Stock Show is an annual livestock show and festival held every January at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado since 1906.
The show’s original purpose was advertised as showings to demonstrate better breeding a ...
in
Denver, Colorado
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
on January 15, 2019, and was thrown from his bull. However, the bull — Hard Times
— then turned and his back legs stepped hard on his chest before moving off. Eyewitness reports say he did stand, then grasped his chest before collapsing.
He was treated at
Denver Health Medical Center
Denver Health Medical Center, formerly named Denver General Hospital, is a hospital in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Denver, founded in 1860. It is one of five Level I Trauma Centers in Colorado. Denver Health Medical Center is one of the ...
but died from extensive damage to his heart, heart valve, and aorta,
the 1-ton bull crushing his chest even though he was wearing a protective vest. The competition was postponed to the next day, with all riders wearing
memorial patches. The PBR sent support to his wife, Abbey,
who have said that Hard Times will stay in competition because they believe the injury was done "absolutely unintentionally". He was the third bull rider to be killed in competition since the PBR was founded.
In his memory, the PBR temporarily renamed their annual Premier Series event at the
Enterprise Center
The Enterprise Center is an 18,096-seat arena located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Its primary tenant is the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, but it is also used for other functions, such as NCAA basketball, NC ...
in
St. Louis,
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
, as the Mason Lowe Memorial for the 2019 season. The annual Ridin’ with Mason Lowe memorial event in
Cassville, Missouri
Cassville is a city in Flat Creek Township, Barry County, Missouri, Flat Creek Township, Barry County, Missouri, Barry County, Missouri, United States. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of Cassville was 3,190. ...
has been held since 2019. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, but returned in 2021. In 2019 and 2021, the Ridin’ with Mason Lowe event was a part of the PBR’s lower-level Touring Pro Division, but in 2022 became an independent, unsanctioned event.
Since 2019, the PBR has awarded the Mason Lowe Award, given to the rider who scores the highest single ride during the regular season of the
Unleash the Beast Series
The Unleash the Beast Series (UTB) is the Premier Series of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Monster Beverage, Monster Beverage Corporation is the current series sponsor for the premiership since 2018. From its founding in 1994 until 2002, it ...
(UTB).
Personal life
Lowe was well-known for being a cowboy. On June 9, 2018, he married Abbey Cooper in
Pilot Grove, Missouri. They lived in
Rocheport, Missouri, with their dog Gator.
After his death on January 15, 2019, Lowe left behind a widow, Abbey, and other family.
See also
*
Lane Frost
Lane Clyde Frost (October 12, 1963 – July 30, 1989) was an American professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding, and competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He was the 1987 PRCA World Champion bull ride ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowe, Mason
1993 births
2019 deaths
Bull riders
Deaths due to bull attacks
People from Barry County, Missouri
Sports deaths in Colorado
Sportspeople from Springfield, Missouri