Born to parents Max and Toni Grunwald on July 11, 1932. Sugar Grunwald was raised in San Antonio. During high school Grunwald competed in high school rodeos and in 1951 he was the number one steer wrestler in Texas high school competition and qualified for the National High Rodeo Finals.
Following high school graduation in 1951, Grunwald entered the Navy where he served during the Korean conflict. After the service, he married Lerlene Hinds and they had two daughters, Lori and Tana.
Grunwald competed in rodeos as a steer wrestler and bareback riding as a member of the Southern Rodeo Association and the International Rodeo Association. When he was not competing, Grunwald judged rodeos throughout the 1950s and 60s, while his wife was the rodeo secretary of many of the rodeos.
In 1954 Grunwald needed a horse trailer and with the help of his mother, built his own. From taht grew a custom horse trailer business. Over the years he sold more than 1500 trailers to cowboys and horsemen from all over the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Several top cowboys pulled his trailers.
Always a generous man, Grunwald donated trailers to be used as awards at the National Finals Rodeo, Miss Rodeo Texas, and Texas Teen. he was best known for his custom Short Shot and in-line trailers. Grunwald also built trailers that were used as awards for the San Angelo and George Strait roping.
Grunwald built trailers for more than 40 years, before retiring in 1994. Following retirement he spends most of his time fishing and is involved in the activities of all of his four grandchildren.
