David Isham - 2026

A Visionary Entrepreneur and Founder of National Roper’s Supply

For more than three decades, David Isham has been a driving force in the western retail and equine world. What began as a small mom-and-pop store in a Decatur strip mall has grown into National Roper’s Supply, one of the nation’s premier destinations for western retail, training, and competition. His journey is rooted in family, community, horsemanship, and an unwavering passion for the western lifestyle.

David’s introduction to cowboy culture began when his parents moved the family from to Decatur, encouraged by a close family friend his father had done tax work for. This couple became like grandparents to David, and the family purchased 24 acres that his mother still lives on today. Within months of arriving, David attended the Decatur rodeo and instantly fell in love with the western way of life.

One of David’s earliest and most influential friendships was with Willy Gasperson, who began taking him to the Gasperson family ranch. There, David learned to ride, rope, and understand cowboy culture. The two traveled to junior rodeos throughout their youth, though David didn’t back in the box to compete until his senior year of high school. David and Willy went on to compete together in college rodeos, and their families remain close today. David’s son Cade even roped with Willy’s son in junior rodeos.

After earning his accounting degree, David joined a major accounting firm in Fort Worth. During that time, he was invited to rope in Australia during their bicentennial tour rodeos. Encouraged by his parents, he spent several months roping overseas. While touring, he reconnected with his college sweetheart, Karen. Six weeks after returning home, he proposed, and the couple married in 1989—the same year David purchased his first store.

David acquired Bryan’s Western Wear in Decatur and renamed it David’s Western Store. Mildred, the longtime employee who stayed on during the transition, became a mentor in western retail. David also credits early support from brands like Justin, Wrangler, Classic Ropes, and others who embraced him as a young retailer and helped him learn the business. Those partnerships grew alongside NRS for decades.

Driven by his passion for team roping, David began stocking products he personally used and believed in. His store quickly developed a strong reputation with serious horsemen, and out-of-town customers repeatedly told him they wished they had something like it in their own hometowns.

In 1993, David created the name National Roper’s Supply, believing ropers needed a brand that spoke directly to them. Shortly after launching the new name and the 1-800-GOROPIN number, the phones lit up. The demand for a catalog quickly followed, and in the Fall of 1994 David mailed his first 48-page catalog. All 14,000 copies were claimed. Today, NRS still prints two catalogs annually, a tradition David considers one of the brand’s most effective marketing tools.

As NRS grew, David made it a priority to support the western industry. His first major sponsorship was with the USTRC, giving him direct access to his core customers at ropings across the country. This launched what would become one of the industry's largest and most successful road-show teams. Over time, David expanded NRS sponsorships to include the WSTR, NBHA, and his proudest partnership, the NHSRA.

David’s desire to help people improve their horsemanship led to hosting training clinics, which inspired the construction of the NRS Training Facility in 2003. He wanted riders of all ages and abilities to have the same opportunities he’d enjoyed growing up with the Gasperson family. The training center also created a real-world testing ground for NRS products—clinicians could pull gear straight from the shelves, use it in the arena, and provide immediate feedback. This system helped establish NRS as a trusted authority for riders and vendors alike.

NRS continued to expand with retail locations in Decatur, Granbury, Weatherford, and Wickenburg, Arizona. In 2025, NRS acquired Rod’s Western Palace in Columbus, Ohio, one of the Midwest’s largest western retailers. This acquisition also led NRS to become the official retailer of the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

The evolution of NRS Trailers began when David was searching for a trailer for his son, Cade, during high school rodeo. That search led to a partnership with Mike Henderson and the launch of NRS Trailers. A few years ago, the company merged with Bubba Paschal and P&P Trailers to form National Trailer Source (NTS). Today, NTS is the largest trailer dealership group in the country, with 10 dealerships across six states owned by the three partners.

Family is at the heart of the NRS story. David’s oldest son, Cade, followed in his father’s footsteps by earning his accounting degree and CPA before joining the family business. He began as the Granbury store manager, worked his way up to buyer, and now serves as President of NRS. David’s daughters, Jaci, Katie, and Gracie, have also each spent time working in the family business.

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David continues to lead with optimism, gratitude, and a forward-looking mindset. “God has blessed me,” he says. “I’m a glass-half-full person. I don’t look backward.” From a 24-acre childhood ranch to a nationally recognized brand serving horsemen across the world, David built NRS on passion, perseverance, and a deep love for the western way of life.