Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources has presented its inaugural Davis College Legacy Family Award to the Brown family of Throckmorton, a multigenerational ranching family whose deep commitment to cattle production, education, and service has left a lasting mark on both the livestock industry and the university community.
The award, recognizing families spanning at least three generations of Davis College graduates, was presented during the college’s annual Homecoming Breakfast on Saturday (Oct. 11) in the Student Union Building’s Red Raider Ballroom.
“The family of R. A. and Peggy Brown embodies the true Texas Tech spirit of honor and excellence, and their unwavering commitment to faith, family, ranch, and community sets a shining example for generations of Red Raiders to come,” said Davis College Dean Clint Krehbiel. “Their legacy of dedication and integrity has left an indelible mark on agriculture, and we are very proud to honor them with the inaugural Davis College Legacy Award.”
The Brown family’s agricultural roots trace back 130 years. Patriarch R.A. (Rob) Brown Jr., who earned his degree in animal husbandry in 1958, and his wife, Peggy, have dedicated their lives to building both a family and a ranching legacy centered on hard work, faith, and education. Together, they have raised cattle, Quarter Horses - and Red Raiders - for more than six decades from their R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton.
That legacy began even earlier. Peggy’s father, Alfred Donnell, attended Texas Tech in 1927, establishing a family tradition that would extend through four generations and more than a dozen Davis College graduates.
Over the years, the Browns have become synonymous with excellence in cattle breeding and ranch management. Their ranch has been honored with some of the most prestigious awards in the livestock industry, including the NCBA Cattle Business of the Century, AQHA Best Remuda, and the NCBA Vision Award.
Rob Brown himself has been inducted into both the AQHA Hall of Fame and the Saddle and Sirloin Club’s Livestock Industry Hall of Fame, while also earning the Golden Spur Award, one of the nation’s top honors in ranching.
The Brown family’s ties to Texas Tech span three generations and multiple branches, with degrees in agricultural sciences, communications and economics. Six of the Browns’ grandchildren have also graduated from Davis College, continuing the family’s academic and professional legacy. Many have served as student leaders, national competitors on Texas Tech’s ranch horse and livestock judging teams, and advocates for agricultural education.
Beyond their success in ranching, the Browns have been tireless advocates for Texas Tech. Rob and Peggy Brown have served on multiple advisory boards and established scholarships and endowments supporting Davis College students and the National Ranching Heritage Center.
Their ranch has long opened its gates to Texas Tech classes, research teams, and judging programs, helping bridge academic training and real-world ranching experience. They were among the first in Texas to launch a ranch internship program for university students.
That spirit of service has carried through generations. Members of the Brown family have held leadership roles across the American Quarter Horse Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Wheat Producers Association, and other national agricultural organizations.
Today, Rob and Peggy Brown’s family includes four children, 17 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, all connected to Texas Tech and the agricultural way of life. Three family members have been named Citizen of the Year in Throckmorton, while others have been recognized nationally for their leadership, including Donnell Brown as Texas Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher of the Year and Tucker Brown as NCBA Beef Advocate of the Year.
More detailed history of the Brown’s family includes:
- R A (Rob) Brown, Jr. | Father |Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Agriculture | Animal Husbandry (1958) | Rob and his wife Peggy have been married for 68 years and reside in Throckmorton. They have an award-winning history of raising good quarter horses, cattle, and Red Raiders, including 17 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.
- Jody Bellah | Son-in-Law | Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Economics (1981) | Jody & Betsy Bellah own and operate registered and commercial cow/calf, stocker, and wheat operations in Throckmorton, Haskell, & Baylor Counties in Texas, and Otero & Elbert Counties in Colorado. They have three children – Matt, Brad and Laurie, and nine grandchildren.
- Rob A. Brown | Son | Stinnett, Texas | B.S. Animal Science (1983) | Rob A. and wife Talley own and operate commercial cow/calf and quarter horse operations in Texas with their seven children – Amy, RA, Griffin, Myles, Lydia, Amanda, and Ike, and eight grandchildren.
- Marianne Brown McCartney | Daughter| Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Animal Science (1989) Marianne and husband Todd own and operate a commercial cow/calf and Quarter Horse ranch in Throckmorton, Texas. They have five children – Emily, Will, Ben, Caroline, and Claire and four grandchildren.
- Donnell Brown | Son | Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Animal Business (1993) Donnell and wife Kelli operate R.A. Brown Ranch, one of the largest seedstock producers in the U.S. Additionally, they breed and raise quarter horses. They have two sons – Tucker and Lanham, and three grandchildren.
- Matt Bellah | Grandson | Albany, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Economics (2006) | Matt and wife Michelle, along with their four children, reside in Albany, Texas. They ranch in Throckmorton, Haskell, and Ector Counties in Texas running stocker cattle and a heifer development program.
- Brad Bellah | Grandson | Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Communications (2009) | Brad is Senior Vice President, Ag Lender at InterBank. He and his two children raise and show cattle and are heavily involved in the Red Angus breed.
- Laurie Bellah Strebeck | Granddaughter | Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Communications (2012) | Laurie and husband Layne ranch and raise horses in Throckmorton, Texas; Quay, Harding, Union & San Miguel Counties in New Mexico; and Huerfano County in Colorado with their three sons.
- Layne Strebeck | Grandson-in-law |Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Economics (2012) Layne and Laurie ranch and raise horses in Throckmorton, Texas; Quay, Harding, Union & San Miguel Counties in New Mexico; and Huerfano County in Colorado with their three sons.
- Kristen Odom Brown | Granddaughter-in-law |Channing, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Communications 2011) Kristen and RA Brown II (grandson) manage a family ranch along with their own cattle and horses in the Texas Panhandle with their three children.
- Emily McCartney Eiguren | Granddaughter | Jordan Valley, Oregon | B.S. Agricultural Communications (2017) Emily is a Ranch and Western Lifestyle photographer. She and her husband, Nick, along with their daughter, Blaze, ranch and raise horses in Jordan Valley, Oregon.
- Lanham Brown | Grandson | Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Animal Science (2018) Lanham and wife Josey ranch and raise horses in Throckmorton. Lanham has an extensive performance horse training program, and Josey is a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
- Ben McCartney | Grandson | Throckmorton, Texas | B.S. Agricultural Economics (2021) | Ben, wife Jayla and their daughter Margaret ranch and raise horses in Throckmorton.
CONTACT: Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu
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