Harry "Dave" D. Eastlake, Jr.

Harry “Dave” D. Eastlake Jr., 88, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on January 10, 2025. 

He was born to Harry D. Eastlake Sr. & Janice Voelpel Eastlake, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on December 10, 1936. Dave was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Glendale High School where he was involved in FFA and vocational agriculture classes. He graduated from Arizona State University, earning his degree in Livestock Production Management. 

His love of horses was set in motion soon after his 8th grade year when his father bought him his first horse. His interest in rodeo began when a neighbor of his taught Dave how to rope. Dave took a turn at riding bulls and bucking horses in high school. During this time he competed in a junior rodeo association. At the same time, he set about developing his roping skills by practicing on a Jersey calf his boss had given him in lieu of his wages at a dairy farm. During his college years he continued to only compete in riding events. However, he had bought a roping horse so that he could continue to hone his roping prowess.

During college Dave worked at the university’s dairy & poultry farms, among other places. After college he took the opportunity to work for a feedlot in Stanfield, Arizona. He rode everyday at the feedlot as well as roped and doctored the cattle.He also learned a lot from two friends who had been attending a roping school. After gaining this experience, he got serious about roping. 

In the early 60’s, Dave started competing in the Arizona Rodeo Association. He became state champion in 1965. In 1966 he joined the PRCA. Throughout the many years of competing in the pro ranks, Dave won or placed in Prescott, Fort Worth, Cheyenne and at numerous other rodeos. In 1970, he was among the top 15 ranked ropers in the world.

At age 40, Dave learned about what is now the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association. He wasn’t keen on being in a “senior” association, but gave in and began to compete. He ended up going to every final from 1979 through 2004. He competed in 50-60 events per year with the NSPRA. He won the world calf roping event 5 times, along with the team roping and ribbon roping events, one time each. 

The jobs Dave held over the years have been many, but all have been related to the agriculture or cattle industry in some way. They include working for the United States Department of Agriculture in Casa Grande, AZ, the feedlot in Stanfield, AZ, Benedict Cattle Company and Coronado Cattle Company in Tucson, AZ, Eli Lilly/ELANCO in Phoenix, Western Beef in Amarillo, American Ag Credit in Guymon, OKlahoma then transferred to Amarillo, and lastly Commodities Corp. He retired in 1993.

Dave served on the executive board for the NSPRA from 1982-1987, in which 3 of those years he was the general manager. He also served as president in 2000. Dave was elected to the NSPRA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Dave’s thoughts on rodeo & roping:

“I rope every day, it’s great exercise. I greatly enjoy it and it keeps me young!”

“Rodeo is a lot of hard work and sacrifices, it’s fun & it’s what I do. Rodeo is a family business. When you compete and travel together you become family. I’m not out there for the money. Being a world champion and placing in the professional rankings is great and something to be proud of!”

Dave is survived by his wife of 48 ½ years, Linda McLendon Eastlake, brother Bruce (Sandy) Eastlake, daughters Melanie (Russell) Latimer & Heidi Carpena, step-son Randy Hopper, grandchildren Gabe (Christy) Carpena, Thor (Alicia) Smith, Brittany (Tyler) Carpena Noel, Shalimar (Devlon) Latimer Darda, Marissa (Cody) Carpena Ballard, Addie & Grayson Hopper, nephew Kevin Eastlake and niece Kendra Eastlake, as well as 8 great-grandchildren. 

A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, March 12th at 2pm at CrossRoads Country Church 14425 FM 1541 South Washington, Amarillo, Texas, 79118. 

A Celebration of Life will be held in Arizona in April. Requests for details can be obtained by emailing heidicarpena@gmail.com.