Roll Call Tribute

Dolph Winston "Buddy" Smith 

September 19, 1940 - December 31, 2025 

Dolph Winston “Buddy” Smith, a true ranching legend, passed away peacefully on December 31st, 2025, at the age of 85. A native Texan, Buddy was born September 19th, 1940 to Edwin Curtis Smith and Dorothy “Pauline” (Keisler) Smith of Huntsville, Texas.

Buddy’s family was deeply rooted in the ranching and cattle business for five generations. Buddy learned to ride a horse when he was only five years old, and he began working alongside his uncles and grandfather to gain first-hand experience on the family ranch and with the Smith Brothers Cattle Company. This early exposure to the cattle business was instrumental in igniting his lifelong passion.

Buddy graduated from Huntsville High School in 1958 and enrolled in the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry. (Affectionately known as the “cow college,” the school changed its name to Texas A&M University in 1963, the year after he graduated). Buddy was a member of the Corps of Cadets, as it was compulsory in those days, and he was active on the livestock judging team and the college rodeo team. (He lived and worked at the beef center on campus, and he claimed to be so poor in college that he survived primarily on pinto beans and venison).

After graduation in 1962, Buddy served as Assistant County Agent for Washington County in Brenham, Texas, where he directed the local 4-H and FFA programs. Under his guidance, several youth members won Grand Champion honors at the Houston Livestock Show. Buddy also established one of the first 4-H Horse Clubs in central and east Texas.

In 1964, Buddy married the love of his life, Ellen “Larue” Mathews, to whom he was married for more than sixty-one years. Instead of taking a honeymoon, the couple moved to Kingsville, Texas in order for Buddy to start a position as a classifier with Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, or SGBI. (Years later, Buddy would be inducted into the SGBI Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the Santa Gertrudis breed). Over the next several years, Buddy classified cattle in every U. S. state except Alaska, as well as in Canada and much of Central and South America.

Buddy and Larue had their son Shawn in 1967 while living in Kingsville. In 1970 the family moved to Cypress, Texas, where their daughter April was born, having moved here when Buddy became the livestock manager for Josey Ranch. He was responsible for overseeing a breeding program comprised of 3500 head of cattle, to include Santa Gertrudis purebreds along with commercial breeds. Buddy produced a prize-winning bull named James Bond 007 which was awarded Grand Champion at the Houston Livestock Show (its very first show to compete in). Buddy also played a pivotal role in establishing a Santa Gertrudis steer show in Houston.

In 1976 the family returned to Huntsville, where Buddy established Santa Services, a consulting firm and custom-fit business for Santa Gertrudis breeders. Santa Services had the privilege of hauling one of the largest nationwide strings of Santa Gertrudis show cattle, transporting over 100 head to the larger shows in Dallas and Houston. The company showed cattle at every major show in the nation, and continued to exhibit many national Grand Champions in multiple locations across the country. Buddy subsequently established Superior Cattle Sales, a firm specializing in managing live auctions for Santa Gertrudis and Beefmaster cattle.

These auctions were held in many unique locations - some taking place at private ranches, while others were held at a beachfront resort, where the auction ring was set up inside the hotel ballroom. The annual Western Heritage Sale, held at Houston’s legendary Shamrock Hilton, included other items of interest in addition to the cattle, such as fine western art and registered Quarter Horses.

Also noteworthy was a sales event that was held during an Alaskan cruise. Similarly, Buddy had the privilege of being a part of the world’s first airborne cattle sale, held on a charter flight to Hawaii. (For these events, the cattle were videotaped in advance, but the auction remained a live event, complete with bidders and an auctioneer). The charter flight event even included a fashion show where Buddy’s wife, Larue, was one of the models - and it was nationally televised on “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.”

In 1977, Buddy, along with a group of enthusiastic friends and associates, worked tirelessly to re-establish the long defunct Walker County Fair & Rodeo, and Buddy was elected the first President of the Walker County Fair Association. He continued to dedicate much of his time to the fair in the years to follow, witnessing its continual growth and progress as it evolved from its humble beginnings to a well-anticipated annual event.

As an avid sportsman and lifelong hunter, one of Buddy’s last great ventures before “retiring” was the opening of a hunting preserve and skeet range, which he called Possum Walk Ranch, along with guiding hunts in south Texas. (Notably, he served as the guide for former President George H. W. Bush during one such hunt). Buddy was an active member of the Tu-Mile Chapter of Quail Unlimited, and he often attended field trials with NAGDA (North American Gun Dog Association), for which he won numerous awards. And every year he would haul his bird dogs all the way from Texas to Montana for an annual grouse hunting trip that he enjoyed with his wife and fellow hunters.

Buddy was a lifelong member of First Christian Church of Huntsville. At the time of his death, Buddy had been a member of the congregation longer than any other living member.

He is survived by his wife Larue (Mathews) Smith; his son Shawn Carl Smith and partner Daniel Perez; grandson Aiden Cole Smith- Perez; and daughter April Kay Smith. He is also survived by his nephew Sam Adolphus Moak; and his niece Pamela Kay Moak.

Buddy is preceded in death by his parents Edwin Curtis Smith and Dorothy “Pauline” (Keisler) Smith; and his sister Paula Kay (Smith) Moak.

A simple man, Buddy enjoyed the simpler pleasures in life...drinking a cold beer; eating a bowl of Blue Bell ice cream; eating a cold watermelon on a hot afternoon; riding horses; and watching a John Wayne movie. Buddy was a man who never had an email address, and never sent a single text.

Buddy summed up his life this way: “I’m just a rancher, just a husband, just a father, just a friend, just a man who loves his wife, his family, his God, his cows and his bird dogs!”

Buddy will be remembered as a man who had a great sense of humor, a man who loved people, and who loved to tell stories. He was always up for a good laugh, along with a great joke or two. He was loved by all who knew him, and he will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.