Russell started his team roping career by being around old
timers like, Oliver Nie and Jasper Koontz. These are names our WSTR & USTRC founder might remember and
recognize. Russell loved team
roping only second to his family, Laura, Ginny, and James. He sold his horse and put down his rope
in order to make time to build his family a beautiful home in Corrals, NM; not
till the project was 100 percent complete, did he get a new horse and pick his
rope back up. Russell loved the
New Mexico Championships; he would take time off from work to go watch the open
and higher number roping's. He
enjoyed watching his nephew's rope and Sundays were his day to compete and
compete he did. Russell won the
New Mexico Championships twice in 1998 and 2007, along with numerous buckles,
saddles, and trailers. Russell was
quiet, you would never know he was capable of winning, a team roping till you
walked in his saddle room. May
there be team roping in Heaven. He
will have a big smile and will be entered.