An outstanding all-around cowboy, Dave Brock won championships at all levels during his rodeo career. He is also one of the few calf ropers to win on two continents, North America and Australia.
Brock was born on April 7, 1951, in Goodland, Kansas. Growing up, he competed on both ends of the arena and won titles in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association and the Kansas High School Rodeo Association.
He attended Casper Junior College in Casper, Wyoming, and the University of Southern Colorado. In 1971, while attending Casper Junior College, Brock won the national ribbon roping championship. In 1972 and 1973, he won the national all-around championship while attending the University of Southern Colorado. He also repeated as the national ribbon roping champion in 1973.
Brock joined the PRCA in 1972 and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1977, he qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo in calf roping. During his career, Brock qualified for the NFR seven consecutive years in calf roping and three times in steer wrestling.
In 1978, Brock qualified for the NFR in both steer wrestling and calf roping. At the NFR, Brock turned in a spectacular performance in calf roping, winning four rounds and splitting first and second in another. He won the 1978 world championship in calf roping and was the runner-up for the all-around title.
In 1979, Brock toured Australia, competing in rodeo and, although there was not an official title, he was the calf roping champion. Despite taking time off from the United States tour, Brock finished fifth in calf roping in the United States in 1979.
In addition to his world title, Brock also won the all-around championship in the Mountain States Circuit in 1979. He was the Mountain States calf roping champion in 1977 and 1979.
Brock’s last NFR qualifications came in calf roping in 1983 and in steer wrestling in 1982. He continued to compete on a limited basis, moving to Texas where he qualified for several Texas Circuit Finals.
His son, Brady, also became a top calf roper, winning the Rookie of the Year in tie-down roping in the PRCA in 2001 and qualified for the Wrangler NFR in 2003. His daughter, Brandi, also competed in rodeo and was a top competitor at the junior and high school levels. In 2000, she was a member of the Western Texas College women’s team that was the women’s national college champions.
Brock continues to be involved in rodeo, competing in seniors’ events and as a rodeo judge. He has conducted several roping clinics and helped a number of young ropers get their start in rodeo. He and his wife Deni make their home in Springtown.
