Glenn Laursen Brinkman
10/29/1934 - 3/3/2025

Glenn Laursen Brinkman, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother entered his walk with our Lord on March 3, 2025. Glenn was born on October 29, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent his formative years in Harlston and Pascagoula, Mississippi. Glenn graduated with a degree in forestry from Louisiana State University where he earned the Xi Sigma Pi Outstanding Sophomore Award and the forestry department’s Outstanding Senior Award.

Glenn spotted the woman who would become the love of his life at the Twix and Tween Restaurant in Centreville, Alabama. After an introduction by the pastor of the First Baptist Church, he and Carolyn Leslie were married there August 15, 1959. Their love story lasted for over 65 years.

In Centreville, Glenn worked for the Gulf States Paper Corporation as a forester. He moved with his family, including daughters Leslie and Katherine to the Dallas metroplex in 1962 to work for his brother Lloyd “Brink” Brinkman in his plastics manufacturing plant. In Dallas, Glenn and Carolyn’s son Paul “Pablo” was born and their family was complete.

Glenn moved his family to the Texas Hill Country in 1969 where he began his impressive career as a cattleman beginning with the establishment of Brinks Brangus in 1968 when his brother, Lloyd, purchased the Riverby Herd. Lloyd opened operations at Prison Canyon Ranch which included purchasing the Camp Verde store. Glenn became the manager of their cattle operation and initially officed at the Camp Verde store where he had additional duties as postmaster. From their first sale in 1970, Brinks Brangus achieved unprecedented records. Glenn devoted himself totally to the endeavor of making Brinks Brangus the best in the industry with a concentration on genetics. Their motto was “Breeding the Best, Better”.

Recognized as an innovator, Glenn secured a place in the history of beef cattle with the development of a superior animal. This striving for excellence led to many rewards and achievements. In 1970, he was chairman of the committee that formed the Hill Country Brangus Breeders and produced the first Top of the Crop Sale in Kerrville. In the early years, he was on the board of the Performance Registry International (which preceded the Beef Improvement Federation).

Glenn’s interest in genetics led to his studying different Zebu breeds and their contribution to Brangus. He visited every major Brahman breeder in the United States and many Nelore herds in Brazil. As a result of this study, he started a breeding up program from Angus and Zebu.

Glenn was the first Brangus breeder to utilize embryo transfer beginning that work in 1977. He started in-depth carcass evaluation with Kansas State University using ultrasound technology. This data was seminal in developing Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) for ribeye for the Brangus breed.

Because he was a perfectionist where keeping records was concerned, Glenn developed a tagging system with a year code to identify all embryo transfer progeny. This system is known as the GB International Measuring System and is used by all Brangus breeders.

Glenn was past president of the Texas Brangus Breeders Association, the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) 1983-1984 (also chairing the Brangus Publications, Inc.), and Beef Improvement Federation. He was the first to be named Brangus Breeder of the year by the IBBA in 1982, proof of his peers’ respect for him and his record. In 1997, the Beef Improvement Federation honored him with the Continuing Service Award. In 2005, Glenn was the first recipient of the IBBA Pioneer Award.

In 1984, Glenn and Lloyd moved Brinks to the Flint Hills of Kansas. Glenn felt he came home to these rolling hills where he made lasting friendships. Following the sale of the cattle herd in 1993, Glenn and Carolyn purchased a ranch outside of Athens, Texas where he created a pristine environment for his new project, Angus Plus. Glenn’s grandchildren shared his enthusiasm for the ranch despite his penchant for putting them to work as “thistle grubbers”. The ranch was a special place for his extended family. After selling the ranch, he and Carolyn, called Pop and Numa by their grandchildren, moved into Athens and continued building their community centering around the First Presbyterian Church where Glenn served as an Elder.

Glenn is survived by his wife Carolyn Leslie Brinkman; his children and their spouses Leslie Brinkman-Greer (Paula), Katherine Sutherlin (Brad), Paul “Pablo” Brinkman (Colleen); his grandchildren Kasey Sutherlin, Sam George, Aaron George (Jenna), Josh Sutherlin (fiancé Megan Lafleur), and Tucker Brinkman; his great-grandchildren Isaiah George and Eden George; his siblings Roy Brinkman (Jean), Carolyn Gordon (Wendell), and Harvey Brinkman (Carol); numerous nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Glenn is preceded in death by his daughter Ann Marie Brinkman; his parents Astrid Laursen Brinkman and Carl Harvey Brinkman (Naomi); and siblings Lloyd Brinkman, Jeanne Brinkman, and Margaret Brinkman Roberts.

Glenn Laursen Brinkman was a man of integrity and faith who gave freely of his knowledge and supported the life goals of his children and many in the Brangus industry. A celebration of his life will be scheduled and communicated at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the development of the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association: Glenn Brinkman Memorial Scholarship. Donations may be sent to Pablo Brinkman, 3928 Oak Park Drive, Kerrville, Texas, 78028.

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