Sonny Davis
World Champion Steer Roper
1935-1991
C.F. Davis was born on January 2, 1935, in Kenna, New Mexico. Sonny, as he is well known, attended school at Ft. Sumner, NM., but preferred to be outside, on a horse, with rope in hand. He competed in steer roping, both at sanctioned rodeos and at match competitions from 1950 to 1990. He was always known for his "tough cowboy" style of roping and was always a crowd favorite at the Calcuttas.
Roping, rodeo, and the "cowboy way of life" was all Sonny ever wanted and he was blessed with the talent, ability, and good fortune to make a living at what he loved. As much as Sonny thrived on the competitive spirit of rodeo, he also enjoyed being the "encourager" to other contestants.
Sonny was a three-time PRCA World Champion Steer Roper in 1964, 1966, and again in 1968. Sonny was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979 and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1993.
Sonny and his first wife had two daughters, Debi and Trudi. C.F. “Sonny” Davis passed away on April 14, 1991, at the age of 56. He was inducted posthumously into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.