Ronald "Ronnie" Dean Schroeder

Ronald Dean “R.D.” Schroeder was called home by our Lord on Monday, May 17, 2021, in Houston, Texas. On March 5, 1948, R.D was born the second son to F.W. “Boots” and Jean Schroeder. He graduated from Forrest Park High School in 1966 and attended Blinn College and joined the Texas Army National Guard. He was currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the China United Methodist Church and an active member of the Beaumont Fire and Rescue Retirees.

R.D. was a real-life hero, a family man, a cowboy, and a gatherer of friends from coast to coast.

R.D. was proud to be raised in an era where daily life was helping the family. He cherished memories and told frequent stories of being loaned out with his brother Bill to any Uncle in need of help in the hay fields, rice farms, horse barns, and cattle pastures. He believed it was this way of life, and these men, Icky, Johnny, Sugum, and Marvin Schroeder, together with his father, Boots, instilled the values that made him the man he was.

R.D. was at heart a real cowboy who began his passion for livestock and rodeo early in life with his brothers and cousins. He served in leadership roles and won many 4-H and FFA championships showing cattle and continued that tradition with all his children, grandson Austin, and many nieces and nephews.

R.D.’’s love of horses in his young life led him to compete in horse shows and rodeos in multiple events, including calf roping, reining, and team roping, but as most Schroeder boys did, he loved to ride bulls. He would follow that passion to the end of his life, owning and raising bucking bulls. Together with his wife, Leigh Ann served as the Publisher and editor of The Short Round, the official magazine of Championship Bull Riding.

In 1968 R.D. married Kay M. Gibbs. In 1971, the same year their first child Scott was born, R.D. closed the gate on his rodeo and horse career and joined a second brotherhood and began his 27-year storied career with the Beaumont Fire Department, where he retired with honors as Captain. In 1973 daughter Kristi was born, followed by Wendy in 1975.

Captain Schroeder was known to be fearless under fire, a decisive leader, and remembered most for his amazing imagination as a problem solver, thus saving many lives.

He raised his children in China, Texas, where he is remembered for how he encouraged his children and coached many others in the Little Dribblers organization. He served as Chairman and on the Board for over ten years. He pressed his kids in their young pursuit of 4-H, basketball, volleyball, football, and track but most important to him, their education. Scott would follow his Dad to Blinn and graduated from Texas A & M with a double degree in Poultry and Animal Science and is a manager with Tyson Foods, Inc. Kristi graduated from Texas A & M with an accounting degree and is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Texas State Police Association. Wendy graduated from Lamar in Kinesiology and followed her father in his passion for coaching, and currently teaches at Anahuac Middle School.

In competition and life as a father, R.D. was always their number one fan…encouraging them to run a little faster, try a little harder, and never quit.

R.D. Schroeder is remembered as a dedicated father, a first responder, an extraordinary friend, a trusted husband, son, and brother. Still, the role he adored was trail boss of the adventures he created as a proud father and grandfather. Once while babysitting at Scott’s house, he built a vegetable stand for Cheani and Skylar as Scott arrived home to his garden “for sale.” When he and Leigh Ann moved back to China, R.D. and Karl Kibeaudeax rebuilt an old barn, and they raised turkeys for Austin to show in local livestock fairs. At Christmas, Abby and Umpa made and distributed reindeer food to the family and enjoyed making things in the shop. He once drove to Austin at Kristi’s request to pull his grandson Ryan’s tooth, old school – with a string.

R.D. was exceptionally proud of the family tradition of breeding and raising livestock. After retirement, he moved to what he referred to as The Schroeder Ranch North Division in Gainesville, Texas, to assist his younger brother Robbie who owned and operated one of the premier quarter horse ranches in the country. R.D. was affectionally known as Robbie’s entertainment director/road Manager for ten years, where together they coined the phrase “Central Schroeder Time.” Many of his late-night storytelling of that era will live on with his nephew Ryan and in the alleys of horse barns across the country.

In 2001 he met Leigh Ann at a horse show, and they were married on December 13, 2003 where they would begin their life’s journey with horses, rodeo, and bull riding as their bond. They bought land and established their home adjacent to Robbie’s Ranch, where he was also raising and hiding professional bucking bulls. Going back to his roots, R.D. began hauling these bulls for Robbie and Roy Carter, and from the back seat of the truck, Leigh Ann used her public relations skills to work in the bucking bull world. They had found an early version of heaven.

R.D. was an integral part of the original Stock Contractor’s Alley at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, developing a way to bring Roy Carter’s superstar bucking bull Kid Rock into the Mandalay Bay Casino Fan Zone.

In 2008, they began traveling the country with Tuff Hedeman at the helm of the bull riding organizations. It will be difficult to envision a Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding event without R.D. Schroeder behind the bucking chutes. His love for travel and adventure was strong, but his love for home and family never diminished. He often expressed his gratitude and love for being an American, Texan, and Aggie.

R.D. gave with his heart…he was present in people’s lives and the first to stop by to check on you. He was the kind of man who was just as comfortable in his backyard as he was in the VIP rooms with icons and rodeo royalty.

R.D. Schroeder stood for what was right, defended his beliefs, and cared deeply about his friends, his country, his beloved Texas, and above all, his family.

R.D. Schroeder is survived by his wife, Leigh Ann Schroeder; three children, Scott Allen Schroeder and his wife, Lynette, of Guntersville, Alabama and his children, Cheani and Skylar Schroeder; Kristi Espino of Austin, Texas and her son, Ryan; Wendy Clark and her husband, Chad, of Wallisville, Texas and her children, Austin and Abby Burnaman; great-grandson, Blake Burnaman; brothers, Bill and his wife, Patricia Schroeder, of China, Texas; Tommy and his wife, Lana Schroeder, of Lovelady, Texas; and Donny and his wife, Suzan Schroeder, of Beaumont, Texas.

R.D. was preceded in death by his father and mother, F.W. Boots and Jean Schroeder; sister, Debbie Jean Audilet; brother, Robbie Lynn Schroeder; his maternal grandparents, Louie and Bessie Hawley; and paternal grandparents, Dutch and Erma “Grandma” Schroeder.

As a family and a community, we have lost an honorable man. A true friend to all. May his kind, Christian, and humble spirit continue in each of us.

A gathering of Mr. Schroeder’s family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 20, 2021, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 21, 2021, at Broussard’s, Beaumont, with his interment to follow at China Cemetery.

Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to celebrate R.D.’s life at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 245 West Hwy 90, China, Texas 77613.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson County ESD 3, 3554 South Pine Island Road Beaumont, Texas 77713. Attn China Fire Station.

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