Written By Lacey Parsons
There are few people who touched the world of team roping, specifically in California, like David S. Brown. Born on March 16, 1946, and making his final ride on February 9, 2025, after a private eight-month battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, David will forever be remembered as a big, kind man who loved life and loved people. While many ropers knew him as the man behind the California $hootouts, he was so much more than that. David S. Brown was an advocate, a competitor, a teacher, and a friend.
A Life Defined by Passion
David was raised in Oklahoma and grew up with an unwavering determination. “He was a character,” said Ann Wimmer, the love of his life for 35 years. “He was an all-American kid—packing a lunchbox, cast on his arm—just a typical kid from that era. Had a pretty classic upbringing and was always outside.” As a young boy, he dreamed of being a calf roper. His uncle challenged him: “You can’t rope off a horse until you can catch the dummy ten times in a row without missing.” By the next day, David had it mastered. That drive carried him through life—whether it was cars, roping, polo, or golf, he pursued every passion with intensity and skill.
David was exceptionally athletic. Standing at 6’7”, he excelled in nearly every sport. His hand-eye coordination was unmatched, enabling him to excel across multiple sports and disciplines with ease.
After high school and a brief stint in college, David went to Vietnam, serving in the Army as an infantryman. “I don’t know how he made it out of Vietnam,” Ann reflected. “A lot of those guys didn’t make it back. But he did, and when he got home, he just shelved it. It wasn’t a big part of his identity.”
David had a love for fast cars and after returning home from Vietnam and spending some time in Louisiana, he made his way to California in style—driving a Cadillac and pulling a one-horse trailer. He immersed himself in the roping community and found success not only as a competitor, but also as an event producer, changing the landscape of California roping forever.
Changing the Game in California
David was a visionary. When roping participation began to dwindle in California, he revitalized the scene by offering high-money ropings and valuable prizes. “A lot of the ropings in California were really cheap at the time, and they had died off,” recalled Denny Gentry, the founder of USTRC and WSTR. “David brought excitement back with prize ropings. When the World Series started, he wanted in on the ground floor because he knew it was going to be something big.”
He was a relentless advocate for recreational ropers. “David was pushing for a #7roping in the World Series two years before it happened,” Denny added. “He believed Global was being too careful in making #2 the first number and utilizing the #3. When the #7 took off, he said, ‘What did I tell you!’”
His fairness extended to every aspect of his events. Steve Simons, his colleague and close friend, noted, “David made sure the cattle fit the lowest numbered team there. He wanted everyone to have a shot at being seven seconds in a roping.” He fought for fair handicapping, ensuring California ropers were properly classified so they had a competitive chance.
Stephanie Anderson, longtime General Manager of Ropers Sports News, also reflected on David’s impact. “David expressed an interest in producing and advertising ropings early on. In 2004, he established The California $hootouts after talking to ropers and potential sponsors. His goal was to give ropers a Finals with huge payouts and unbelievable prizes. When the WSTR debuted in 2006, David saw it as the wave of the future and quickly jumped in to produce qualifying ropings throughout California and Nevada.”
David’s commitment to team roping was evident in his loyalty to Ropers Sports News. “David’s monthly treks to our office were more than memorable,” Stephanie added. “There was no internet, and he refused to fax, so he made the two-hour-plus drive from Los Gatos to Lodi once a month with his loyal Australian Shepherd, Boogie, in the back of his truck. He’d roll in with notes scratched in binders and steam coming out of his ears with his grandiose ideas. He was such an innovator!”
The Man Behind the Ropings
Beyond his business sense, David was known for his humor, his quirks, and his unwavering generosity. He had a way of bending the rules in his own way, particularly when it came to dress codes. Denny Gentry recalled an instance where David repeatedly defied the World Series dress code, which required cowboy hats. When questioned, David justified it by saying, “I saw a puff of dust over here, so I implemented the wind rule.” It was classic David—finding a way to do things his way while keeping everyone laughing.
His reputation for bucking the dress code was a regular occurrence, and he often competed in shorts and a ball cap. “He asked Booger Barter if it was true there was no dress code at his roping,” Ann recalled. “Booger asked, ‘What exactly are you planning to rope in?’ David said, ‘Shorts and some top-siders.’ And Booger just laughed and said, ‘I’d like to see that.’ And that’s exactly what he did.”
David was also a smooth operator. “He once talked himself through airport security and onto a plane with no luggage and no ID,” Ann shared with a laugh. “And it was because he could. It was because he was smart and solid and radiated good intent—so, they let this gigantic guy with no luggage and no ID on this plane. Anyone else would be on a terrorist watch list for the rest of their lives, but the one guy big enough to single-handedly take down the cock pit, they’re like, ‘Yeah come on! You want a free upgrade?’
Beyond his appreciation for comfort and his ability to talk himself out of any situation, David’s love for food was legendary. “Every trip we took revolved around what was for dinner,” Steve laughed. “He was big on buffets—if we had to drive an extra 30 minutes for a good one, we would.”
While he had a sharp business mind, he was also incredibly generous. “I watched him give away $5,000 in prizes at an event,” Steve added. “Then we’d go negotiate the next venue, and he’d push for even more to give back to the ropers. He never cut corners when it came to the competitors.”
A Lasting Legacy
Even in the final months of his life, David was still showing up. He attended as many ropings as he could, often driving himself to events despite being sick. “He didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him,” Steve said. “He was trying to help people until the very end.”
David was also deeply passionate about golf, spending years as a superintendent of working-class golf courses. “He could make grass grow anywhere,” Ann shared. “He always loved the 9-hole municipal course that the everyday guy played. His last golf course was out at Gavilan College in Gilroy, and he took this rundown, sorry looking little 9-hole course, and turned into this lovely little jewel. It’s not expensive to play, but man, is it pretty! He just loved it. It was his thing. That was his happy place. He had no intentions of retiring. He loved getting up and going, even when he got sick, he was still working. The ladies at the infusion clinic would ask, ‘You’re still working?!’ And he’d reply, ‘Of course I’m still working!’ And then later, he was driving himself in and they would say, ‘You’re still driving?!’ And he would reply, ‘Of course I’m still driving.’ And towards the end, he would walk in and they were in awe that he was still walking. You never met a more even-keeled guy. He never complained.”
His influence in team roping, polo, and golf all stemmed from one core belief—sports should be accessible. He fought for the working-class competitors, ensuring they had a place to pursue their passion.
As Steve Simons so graciously put it, “No matter what their opinion of him was, I hope people remember that he truly tried to do the best he could at every roping he ever produced. Even when he was sick, he was still showing up.”
“No one ever had my back like David,” Ann reflects. “He encouraged me to do everything that I wanted to do. He was always 100% supportive. I don’t know how many people get that kind of uncompromising love. I hope everybody. I hope everyone gets that somewhere in their life where you choose each other over and over and you don’t let go.”
David S. Brown wasn’t just a roping producer or a golf course expert. He was a man who made the world better for those around him—through his fairness, his friendship, his support, his advocacy, and his relentless drive to improve the sports he loved. His legacy will live on in every roper who gets a fair shot, in every working man’s golf course that thrives, and in the countless people who had the privilege of knowing him.
Rest easy, David. You left your mark, and we will never forget it.
