Patricia Ann (Heid) Hunnicutt was born on June 16, 1942 in Lincoln Park, Michigan to Lee and Eleanora (Pusher) Heid. Patricia passed away on July 30, 2019 at her home in Colbert, Oklahoma at the age of 77.
Pat graduated from San Leandro High School in California and attended Oakland City College. She married Larry Wayne Hunnicutt and to this union were born two daughters. They moved to Bryan County in 2001 from Ceres, California. She was instrumental in founding the American Computer Team Roping Association and American Computer Barrel Racing Association Computer Services. Pat and Larry were faithful members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mead and she enjoyed spending time with family and friends, roping, riding and computers. Pat will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Bill Heid; and in-laws, Warren and Smokey Hunnicutt, Tommy Hunnicutt and Gerald Hunnicutt.
Loved ones left behind to cherish her memory are her loving and devoted husband of 64 plus years, Larry W. Hunnicutt; daughters, Terry Reed and husband Raymond and Pamela Hunnicutt; grandchildren, Jarrod Hunnicutt and wife Teresa, Hannah Hunnicutt and Brett Guthrie and Kelly Hunnicutt; great grandchildren, Parker Hunnicutt, Landon Withers, Raiden Guthrie, Taylor Hunnicutt and Reagan Hunnicutt and in-laws, Tommy Rowland and wife Brenda, Suzie Hunnicutt, Kandi Hunnicutt Daniel and Marlene Heid and numerous extended family and friends.
Services to celebrate Pat’s life were held August 6 at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com.
ACTRA Honors Founder Hunnicutt
The National and California ACTRA Finals will dedicate ropings in Pat’s memory.
In the early 80’s team roping was nothing like it is today. Arena operators were trying to figure out a way that would allow the hobby roper to get a fair shot at winning. The early 80’s was the beginning of the computer age. Pat and some other ropers in the Bay Area got together and came up with an idea of handicapping ropers by money won with the records kept on a computer. Pat would keep the records and in 1982 the American Computer Team Roping Association, ACTRA was born.
The idea seemed to catch on and opened the door for the weekend warriors to go and compete and win! The next few years ACTRA thrived and the concept caught fire both locally and nationally.
Pat was instrumental in the growth and popularity of team roping. Pat came up with other ideas like a nonprofit association owned and operated by its members. Approximatley 35 years ago she came up with a handicap concept for barrel racers, the ACBRA, that is still flourishing in California. She was also one of the founders of the ACTRA Catastrophe Fund and Scholarship Fund. She loved to see the beginners win and realized they were the heart and soul of ACTRA.
As team roping popularity continued to grow, other handicap associations sprung up all over the country. ACTRA had its fair share of challenges and always seem to come up with great solutions and ideas that would keep them on the cutting edge of the team roping industry. Pat played a key role in the foundation that was laid so many years ago that continues to keep ACTRA a strong and vibrant association.
Although Pat is no longer here, her ideas and dreams live on. A tip of the Resistol for the lady who got it all started.
We want to send Larry and his family our heartfelt condolences.