Charles Holbrook

Charles Holbrook was born in Wasco, CA on August 17th, 1951, and rode off from this earth on February 26, 2022. Charlie had an interesting and adventurous life! At age 14, he arrived at Riata Ranch in Exeter, California. He was taken in by Tom and Vickie Maier. It was there, that Charlie found his calling and truly connected with the world of horses and the western way of life. No matter what happened in life, Charlie was going to be a cowboy.......he loved it. Many of his friends have said that Charlie should have been born a century earlier. He would have fit in famously in the days of the Old West. He always loved a little trouble. Not that he was trying to gain anything, he just enjoyed the thrill of it. His young friends often found themselves right in the middle of the mischief. Many of these companions remain lifelong friends.

Charlie rodeoed for Fresno State University as a young man and treasured the friends and the memories he made there. Shortly after, he connected with Bob Cook, of the RSC Rodeo Livestock Company. With Bob Cook and several young rodeo friends he went off to Taiwan in 1977, to put on rodeos and wild west shows. This was just the beginning of many trips to foreign lands to introduce the American cowboy and rodeo to other cultures. Those trips included Belgium, Japan, China & Mongolia. Charlie’s recounting of the adventures would certainly keep listeners attentive, if not astound them. Charlie’s whole life was one big adventure. Everyone who knew him has a “Charlie story”.

Bobbie Cook recounts how her dad and Charles had a very special friendship. Bob met Charlie when he was buying pickup horses for RSC rodeo company whilst Charlie was still in college. He brought a load of horses to Lake Comanche. When it was time to be paid, Charlie suggested a double or nothing bet. My dad could not believe this college kid had the nerve to make this bet. That was the only bet Charlie won with my Dad and was the start of a lifelong friendship. Bobbie also recalls the image of Charlie in a trench coat and sunglasses trotting off over the hills in Mongolia, riding a camel. He did some trading with the chief of the little Mongolian village whilst there. The chief was drinking Jack Daniels & Charlie was dressed in full Mongolian garb complete with sword. Another Charlie adventure was at the last NFR Bob Cook attended, for old time’s sake, Charlie stole a rickshaw and gave Bob a ride to the Gold Card Room.

He knew people from many genres of the horse world and many more people knew who he was. Charlie held his friends in high regard. He loved to tell of his many dear friends’ accomplishments. Yet, Charlie did not brag on himself. A trait that he will be remembered for was being an especially generous person. He always prided himself on wearing the best cowboy hat and boots and you didn’t see Charlie without a starched shirt and pressed Wranglers. He could always be counted on when needed. If you were truly Charlie’s friend you knew he would come to your rescue, any time of any day, whether you were stranded with a flat tire or had been kidnapped and hidden away in the Amazon! You knew he would get the job done, he’d do anything for a friend. He loved roping, riding a good horse, horse trading and dealing in and collecting Western and Native American antiquities.

In the 1980’s Charlie purchased a sheep station in Australia. Many lifelong friendships were formed. He also reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Lori Brown Andrews. They became life partners, moving to Ada, Oklahoma in 1988. They bought a beautiful ranch in Seminole, Oklahoma and made a great life together in an open western style home that would make any cowboy proud. It was here that Charlie passed away peacefully in his sleep. This may have been very disappointing for him, not because his life was over, but because Charlie probably would have felt it more appropriate to go down in cowboy style with “guns-ablazing”.

He leaves behind his love, Lori Brown Andrews, his Sister Linda Garay & husband Ernie, His Nephew Shawn Hunt, Nieces Megan Garay & Emily Mariot & his Aunt Blondell Holbrook. He is also survived by Nieces Heather Brown, Kristi Boonstra and husband C.R and Great Niece Avery Robin Boonstra and many other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cowboy Crisis Fund. Po Box 243. Fittstown. OK. 74842.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Charlie in early May.

Arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.