Rosenberg fairgrounds to host Danny Dietz roping, cookoff
About 7,000 people are expected to attend the sixth annual U.S. Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial team roping and barbecue cookoff May 23-24 at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, said director David Stone.
The free event pays tribute to Dietz, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism in combat” in the war in Afghanistan. Only Houston-born SEAL Marcus Luttrell survived a 2005 battle in which Dietz and others were killed by Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings.
Luttrell, writing with Patrick Robinson, chronicled the operation in a 2007 book, “Lone Survivor,” and actor Emile Hirsch portrayed Dietz in the 2013 movie of the same name.
“Every year we add something that brings in more people and more awareness of the need to help surviving spouses of fallen SEALs and their children,” said Stone, a west Houston business owner who lives in Hempstead.
“I started as a volunteer in 2012,” said Stone. “It was the first year the event was held at the Fort Bend fairgrounds and it was a team-roping event. It’s grown into an officially sanctioned barbecue cookoff and lots of family-friendly entertainment.”
Last year, a car show with 99 vehicles was added, attracting another 600 to 800 visitors, he said.
“This year, there will be 200 to 300 cars, in a oneday car show,” said Stone.
The event’s website, www.dannydietzmemorial.com, also boasts live music by Madison Rising (billed as “America’s most patriotic rock band”), silent and live auctions, roping, mutton busting, face painting, jump houses and — just added — a memorial bicycle ride with kickstands up at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23.
Stone said that Dietz’s surviving spouse, Patsy Dietz-Shipley, will appear, and some Texas Rangers will attend to present an “Honorary Texan” award to a surviving spouse of a fallen SEAL.
Dietz-Shipley is an executive director of U.S. Navy Seal Danny Dietz Memorial Roping along with Danny Quinlan of Hockley.
“We made the event free because the purpose of it is to pay our respects to soldiers and let them know we haven’t forgotten their sacrifices,” said Quinlan, who operates a commercial real estate business in Houston.
The roping events can be entered by contacting John Philipp at 713-8066012.
A cowboy church service will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, May 24, at the fairgrounds.
The fairgrounds are located at 4310 Texas 36 South in Rosenberg. For more information, visit www.dannydietzmemorial.com. All events benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation, with Quinlan setting $200,000 as the amount he hopes will be raised at the May 23-24 activities.
Stone, a 1987 graduate of Cy-Fair High School, said that 110 volunteers, some of whom work yearround, are helping put on the event.
“This is our fourth year in Rosenberg,” he said. “The county has made us feel very, very welcome. The facilities are laid out nice, and it has a nice arena that appeals to the roping crowd.
“The event is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend,” added Stone. “So many families want to go to the lake, but we try to attract as many as we can with family-friendly activities. They include a youth rodeo on Saturday evening.” Don Maines is a freelance writer