With 20 years in the ranching and stock contracting businesses, Roach made an indelible impression on the sport of bull riding as both a bull breeder and a former bull rider. From the early 1960's through the early 1980's Roach made his living as a bull rider. Upon his retirement, Roach embarked on a future in the bucking bull business. With a good eye for bulls that would perform, Roach established Rafter 7r Bucking Bulls. 18 head of bred heifers purchased in 1986 from Charlie Plummer served as a foundation for the successful family owned and operated Rafter 7r, an operation that is recognized for its commitment to maintaining the purebred "Plummer" line.

"Ronnie was recognized throughout the bucking bull industry as one of the greatest breeders of all time. More importantly, however, he may be the only man that I can think of in the bull business who I never heard say a bad word about anyone; nor did anyone say a bad word about Ronnie," said ABBI Executive Director Joe Merrick. "Our world was a better place for having him pass through it and we will miss him. In honor of the man and his contribution to our industry, the ABBI Board of Directors has instructed me to name the ABBI Breeder of the Year award after Ronnie, and proudly, from now on it will be so named," continued Merrick.

Ronnie Roach was born April 18, 1949, in Lawton to Lucille Holmes Gissendaner and Obed Russell Roach. He married Nancy Kay Dupler in Cache on April 20, 1968. He graduated from Cache High School in 1967. Roach is survived by his wife Nancy and his three children: Royce Roach and wife Terri of Cache; Brady Roach and wife Renee of Apache, and Lindsey Roach also of Cache. Roach is also survived by his three grandchildren Sommer Roach, Leighton Roach, and Anslie Roach; his four brothers and their spouses: Jimmy and Kay Roach, Eddie and Sandy Roach, Kenneth Roach, and Jerry and Janet Roach, all of Cache; a sister and her husband, Elaine and Jimmy Taylor, Cache; his mother, Lucille Bouse, Cache; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Roach was preceded in death by his father and his maternal and paternal grandparents, Ned and Gracie Gissendaner and Ruth and Violet Roach.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald Roach Memorial Fund at Bank of the Wichitas, P.O. Box 438, Cache 73527.