Emily Koontz Dial

Emily Koontz Dial

1937-2025

The gale force wind that was Emily Koontz Dial shifted to a whisper on September 6, 2025. Emily was a dynamic and forceful individual. She never encountered a situation that she could not or would not handle. She not only was an amazing cattle woman but she was a self-taught, fabulously creative cook who could throw together a meal for 12 from pantry staples when cattle buyers unexpectedly showed up at meal times. She once baked and decorated over 200 Valentine's Day cupcakes for all the classes at Bloomington Junior High. She was fearless, whether it was the day she climbed under the bunkhouse to rescue a litter of puppies being attacked by a rattlesnake or the day she walked into the house of one of her children's classmates to talk down their father who was holding the family hostage with a gun. And as her actions often spoke louder than her words, she modeled to her children a deep compassion through her love of all animals and people from all walks of life, especially those who were less fortunate and struggling. She was fearless, determined, creative, tough, tender and magnetic. If you met her you NEVER forgot her!

Born in San Antonio, Texas on Valentine's Day 1937 to Mary Armel Keeran Koontz Baker and Henry Clay Koontz II, Emily spent her childhood years on the 3X Ranch in Placedo, Texas riding 'Little Red' bareback, working cattle with her mom, teasing the ranch hands mercilessly, and collecting a menagerie of pets. She and her brother, Henry Clay, were schooled by tutors on the remote ranch until high school. The stream of tutors came and went quickly as the two siblings pulled constant pranks to get rid of them, knowing that they would have a long holiday before their mom was able to find a suitable replacement.



Emily attended Saint Mary's Hall in San Antonio, graduating from Victoria Memorial High School. At fourteen she met Joe Dial, who she would later marry, when her brother brought him home on a holiday break from Texas Military Institute. Emily attended the University of Houston where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority before transferring to the University of Texas. In 1956 she followed in the footsteps of her aunts, Claude Coleman Hodges and Emma Keeran Campbell, as an out-of-town duchess in the Order of the Alamo coronation.

In 1957, she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Dial. As co-owners of the 3X Ranch in Victoria County, Joe and Emily spent the following decades developing an enterprise that included crops, registered and commercial cattle, registered horses, and four children along the way. Her innate expertise in breeding championship stock propelled the 3X Ranch to a globally recognized brand of excellence for registered Brahman cattle and Quarter horses. As buyers from over 12 countries and across the United States purchased from the 3X Ranch, its renowned status was solidified.

Brahmans were part of Emily's heritage as her great grandfather, Captain John N. Keeran, with a partner bought five 'Bos Indicus' Brahman cattle from India off a Dutch trading ship docked at Indianola, TX in 1878. This was the first importation of humped cattle in Texas. Yet it was Emily's unique breeding style that influenced red and gray herds around the globe, winning her 300+ National and International Championships. She sold many cattle for record-breaking prices in her day– for example, a quarter interest in MR. 3X MUCHO GRANDE sold to Argentina for $50,000 in 1974!

Bending gender roles, Emily was the first ever woman Brahman cattle judge, judging in Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala as well as throughout the United States. Not only was she a cattle judge, she also judged horses as well. The current generation of female Brahman breeders/judges stand on Emily's petite but powerful shoulders. In 2005, Emily was inducted into the American Brahman Breeders Association's Hall of Fame 'signifying her love, devotion, and many contributions to the American Brahman Breed'.

Never one to slow down, Emily began to explore painting, an artistic ability she shared with her sister, Diana and her mother. Wanting to be the best as always, she trained with artists in New Mexico, Texas, and California, including Dalhart Windberg, a world renowned Texas artist. For hours on end she stood at the easel with oil paint, a palette knife and a paintbrush between her teeth.

An essential part of Emily's life was her Christian faith. She was a lifelong Episcopalian and a charter member of Saint Francis Episcopal Church, Victoria, TX. As a team member and later as Event Director/Coordinator, Emily was involved in the 'Faith Alive' renewal church movement in the 70's and 80's. In San Antonio, Emily became a frequent attendee at Christ Episcopal Church and was affectionately known as 'The Hugger' at the church's Saturday morning outreach program where she went down the line of people waiting for assistance, hugging each and every person and telling them that Jesus loved them…even those who eschewed physical contact welcomed her hug.

Emily was predeceased in death by her parents, her brother, Henry Clay Koontz, her sisters, Diana Koontz Massey and Carolyn Koontz and her ex-husband, Joe Dial. She is survived and loved by her four children and their spouses, Joseph Dial, Catherine Dial Easley, Emily Dial Heard (Richard Heard), and Peggy Dial (Stephen Shearer); five grandchildren and spouses who affectionately called her 'Queen Mother', Samantha Heard DeYoung (Connor DeYoung), Richard Joseph Heard (Betty Heard), William Zachary Easley, Emma Isabella Easley, and Emily Katelyn Heard; one great-granddaughter, Heather Liv Heard; and twelve nieces and nephews descended from the Koontz, Massey, and Readdy families. The grand dame of American Brahman breeding has moved to greener pastures! RIP Emily.

Graveside Service will be held September 13 at 10:00 am

Memorial Park Cemetery, 2201 N. Main Street, Victoria, TX



A Celebration of Life service will be held September 15 at 11:00 am

Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX

Lunch reception to follow

The service will be live-streamed at cecsa.org/live-stream

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

The Brahman Foundation 'Emily Dial' Scholarship Fund at www.thebrahmanfoundation.org or mailed to:

1730 North Richmond Rd., Wharton, TX 77488.

Pallbearers: Manual Moreno, Zachary Easley, Stephen Shearer, Richard Heard, Daniel Easley, Hector Sepolio. Honorary Pallbearers: Richard J. K. Heard, Allen Grower, and David Royal.

The family would like to thank Manuel Moreno, longtime ranch foreman, and a host of compassionate caregivers: Samantha Nutter, Priscilla Perez, Rosemary Brailey, Rita Ogden, Carli Mobel, Francis Mosman, Robin Kuik, Patricia Rivera, Bernice Purugganan, Lynn Ramert, Blanca Compean, Maria Elena Alonso, and Leimar Santos.