If you've ever met Buddy Williams, you'll most likely never forget him. Known as the "Rope Man" across the country, Williams has never met a stranger among the hundreds, probably thousands of people he's met at trade shows and fairs throughout the U.S.

Williams and Donna, his wife of almost 40 years, moved to Kiowa, Kansas in July 1987. They opened Custom Rope, a business that they moved from El Dorado. He said his business is nearly 50 years old which he began as Super Products that mainly manufactured tow ropes.

Kiowa's Chamber of Commerce selected Buddy as Kiowa's Pioneer Days parade marshal. Pioneer Days is this coming weekend, April 24-25. The parade starts Saturday at 11 a.m. Wearing a black top hat and Pioneer period clothing, he's usually in the parade or skit that follows. He might be driving his vintage car, a 1931 A coup, or wearing a fez, driving one of the Barber County Shriners miniature firewagons.

A Self-made Entrepreneur

Custom Rope continues in Kiowa making big blue tow ropes in various sizes. Donna said they currently employ at least 12 people from four counties and two states. They've employed 21 at their busiest time.

"Buddy has put a lot of people to work through the years," Donna said. He's given students and many others part-time work. He trained young people (including clients from Arrowhead West at Medicine Lodge). Williams said that in 1942 he was born in a tent. Proudly telling that he has no formal education, Williams learned to make ropes from his father while growing up in Chautauqua County Oklahoma. His family had a tree business and all the siblings had to learn to make ropes to use for moving branches. He started manufacturing the rope in Jay, Oklahoma.

That's why as a self-made man, Williams started an annual scholarship gift – $1,000 for a graduating senior from both South Barber in Kiowa and North Barber in Medicine Lodge. The money is for technical or other hands-on training instead of higher education.

Williams is known for his advice, "You can do it if you think you can do it."

He's always worked for himself and grew his business to shipping tow ropes all over the United States. Custom Rope has also sent their products to Canada, Russia, Aruba and Afghanistan, but mainly in the U.S.

"We've made a lot of friends over the years," Donna said. The couple said they feel blessed that so many former employees come back to see them and visit. "Anyone who works for us signs a non-competition clause," he said.

A Favorite Venue to Sell His Ropes, Dollywood

He's traveled to trade shows and state fairs throughout America selling his strong ropes. "I've got the only tow rope that hasn't broken and killed someone. We have zero liability suits in over 40 years." He recalls that in his early days in Kiowa he sold those ropes to local businesses Tucker's farm store and Humphrey's implement.

A favorite trade show location is Dollywood where he's sold ropes for 12 years. At state fairs, Williams said every governor in those states has appeared at his booth to make a rope. He's collected antique rope making machines for decades. Having kids and adults stop by and make a rope at his booth is a main attraction. He's received plaques at shows for having the most visitors at his booth. Besides the ropes, Williams is an attraction himself in his period dress and friendly demeanor.

Laughing, Donna said of her husband, "He's a good talker – not so sure he is a good listener!"

In their blended family, he and Donna have nine children, 24 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Throughout the years some of the grandchildren got to attend the shows, fairs and events they call "mini vacations with their Papa." Their football-playing granddaughter Aydan Bryan, age 14, is a 9th grader at Medicine Lodge. She'll help her Papa at his booth during the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty this Sept. 24–26. On Saturday, 10 of the Williams grandchildren will be in the Pioneer Days skit.

Williams proudly tells that some of his ropes were used in John Wayne movies. He made ropes for famed cowboy Ben Johnson, founder of the Pawhuska Steer Roping.

Liking to help young people. Williams said that Bob Cox who runs The Chief Theater in Kiowa gave him some business. A book read at the elementary was turned into a movie and he made it possible for all the kids to see it at the theater. He provided pizza and money so the kids could buy snacks at the movie. Donna said he has a scrapbook of those type of projects he's organized at numerous places.

Looking back at the Covid-10 pandemic of 2020, Williams said they received orders as usual because ropes are essential. However, it was a hard year because it was difficult to get needed supplies to manufacture ropes and to ship out product.

What many people may not know about Williams is that he was a jockey who raced horses many years and was licensed in 23 states. Of small stature, he rode in Greenwood County at Eureka and also at the Anthony Downs for 25 years. He said that the largest stage he ever got to compete in was the Bellmont Stakes in New York. At a horse race in Louisiana, he told the people if he won he'd donate 10 percent of his winnings to a boys home – he won and his gift was about $7,000, he told proudly.

Donna said to this day, "Buddy has to have interaction with people." If you congratulate him Saturday at the parade, be prepared to visit awhile.