EVENTS
Champion Team Roper, 1937, 1939, 1952
Steer Roper
Calf Roper
Born in 1903 at Gisela, Arizona, Asbury “Raz” Schell roped competitively for more than 20 years through the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. Slight of stature and weighing only 145 pounds, he used finesse instead of brute strength to manage calves, employing a light knee in the flank and tying the animals while standing up.
Schell worked and competed with the best of his time, including John Rhodes, Joe Bassett, Clay Carr, Buckshot Sorrells, Toots Mansfield and Jake McClure. He, along with Rhodes, Bassett and Olan Sims, brought team roping to a new level by heeling from the right, instead of the usual left or “California,” side. By the 1960s, many of the leading California ropers had adopted this style. Asbury also was known for a string of great roping horses, that included Driftwood, Cowboy and Cherokee Jake (the latter two were half brothers of famed roping horse Poker Chip). Dedication, skill and well-trained and talented horses brought Schell three world titles in team roping.
Asbury Schell is remembered as one of Arizona’s great ropers. In his heyday he was recognized as always having “three aces” in the arena — “good horses, good partners [and] good attitude.” He died at Cottonwood, Arizona, in 1980.
