Bio
For more than three decades, Denny Gentry shaped the landscape of modern team roping. Widely regarded as the “Godfather” of the sport, he founded the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) and the World Series of Team Roping, guided countless producers, and helped transform team roping from a niche rodeo event into a nationwide recreational industry worth tens of millions of dollars. When he stepped away from his leadership role on January 1, 2020, he left behind an infrastructure—and a legacy—that will continue to influence the sport for generations.
Gentry’s path to roping leadership began with hardship. At age 25, he survived a catastrophic boating accident that left doctors contemplating the amputation of both arms. Though he kept them, the permanent disability changed the course of his life. When he eventually returned to roping, he recognized that every competitor brings a different set of circumstances to the arena. That realization shaped his core philosophy: everyone’s “best” looks different, and there’s no shame in that. Team roping, Gentry believed, should welcome people from every walk of life.
Entrepreneurial and relentlessly honest, Gentry built his businesses through innovation and hard work. Under his direction, team roping grew into a recreational powerhouse—an industry generating between $70 million and $100 million annually, supporting a vast network of stock contractors, horse trainers, arenas, equipment makers, and producers. Before Gentry, no producer in the United States could make a full living solely from running ropings. By the time he retired, several could.
His influence extends beyond economics. Gentry helped create a new culture around team roping—one that valued fairness, structure, and opportunity. He differentiated recreational team roping from rodeo for many years, but came to believe the sport existed on a single continuum: a large base of everyday ropers with a sharp peak of top-tier professionals. Though he never shied away from blunt truth, he championed the idea that the sport belonged to everyone—from beginners entering their first jackpot to world-class competitors chasing major titles.
Gentry’s wife, Connie, and their children played active roles throughout his career. Their daughters, Lacee and Audra, helped build the organization’s marketing and media efforts, while his son Lucas worked wherever he was needed, often managing horses and barns during major events. Together, the Gentry family helped grow team roping into a national community—one that remains as important to them personally as it is professionally.
After decades spent running major events, guiding producers, and fielding every possible complaint, Gentry announced his transition and named Ty Yost as his successor. Connie continues to assist with the evolving administration, ensuring continuity and sharing her expertise.
Gentry does not consider himself retired—only finished with the business side of roping. Once his shoulder heals, he plans to rope more, stay involved, and continue sharing his opinion when asked. The best part of his life’s work, he says, isn’t the money, the events, or the size of the industry. It’s the friendships—the social network of ropers from across the world who became part of his everyday life.
Denny Gentry changed team roping forever. He didn’t just build an industry; he built a community.
