Golden State's Top Auctioneer
Plainview Daily Herald, Tuesday, June 19, 2012 By Shanna Sissom Herald Managing Editor
Clay Golden, a 38-year-old Aiken resident and Lockney native, recently earned a coveted spot among champion auctioneers, being named the 2012 Texas State Champion Auctioneer.
It could be said auctioning is in Golden’s blood. His father, Larry, earned his living buying and selling at auctions, so Clay grew up in the business.
“Even when I was in college, I spent a lot of time with Dad, driving around buying antiques,” Golden recalled. When he graduated from Texas Tech in 1997, his dad asked what he wanted for graduation. “I told him I didn’t need anything so he said, ‘then I want to send you to auction school.’”
The father thought his son had a personality and voice well-suited for the occupation, so Clay went to the Kenneth Gregg Auction School of Plainview, which is no longer in operation.
It appears the family tradition of auctioning will continue, as Golden’s daughter, Brooklyn, is already at it.
“My 10-year-old girl did an auction by herself in Plainview, at Wayland (Baptist University), so she’s actually started.”
Brooklyn and her brother, Brenner, 12, attend Plainview Christian Academy.
So far, Brenner hasn’t shown much of an interest in auctioning, Golden said. His wife, Heather, enjoys it all and together they do benefit auctions.
As for being named the Texas State Champion Auctioner, Golden successfully advanced during the preliminary round of bid calling at the Saturday competition in San Marcos.
He then advanced with nine other semi-finalists to the interview portion where last year’s champion posed a set of questions to the contestants, according to a press release.
The panel of five judges then combined the scores of the two events to determine five finalists to compete live during the Saturday banquet.
Golden and the other finalists each sold three items and were scored again on their poise, speed and rhythm, clarity, voice control, appearance and other traits.
In a close competition of exceptionally talented individuals, Golden’s engaging chant and professional demeanor set him apart from the rest and earned him the title of champion, the press release stated.
Golden describes himself as having split occupations, serving as a crop consultant in the summers and auctioning during winter months. It’s a life he believes is well spent.
“Mainly auctions are just fun, and I enjoy it all,” he said.
Plainview Daily Herald, Tuesday, June 19, 2012 By Shanna Sissom Herald Managing Editor
Clay Golden, a 38-year-old Aiken resident and Lockney native, recently earned a coveted spot among champion auctioneers, being named the 2012 Texas State Champion Auctioneer.
It could be said auctioning is in Golden’s blood. His father, Larry, earned his living buying and selling at auctions, so Clay grew up in the business.
“Even when I was in college, I spent a lot of time with Dad, driving around buying antiques,” Golden recalled. When he graduated from Texas Tech in 1997, his dad asked what he wanted for graduation. “I told him I didn’t need anything so he said, ‘then I want to send you to auction school.’”
The father thought his son had a personality and voice well-suited for the occupation, so Clay went to the Kenneth Gregg Auction School of Plainview, which is no longer in operation.
It appears the family tradition of auctioning will continue, as Golden’s daughter, Brooklyn, is already at it.
“My 10-year-old girl did an auction by herself in Plainview, at Wayland (Baptist University), so she’s actually started.”
Brooklyn and her brother, Brenner, 12, attend Plainview Christian Academy.
So far, Brenner hasn’t shown much of an interest in auctioning, Golden said. His wife, Heather, enjoys it all and together they do benefit auctions.
As for being named the Texas State Champion Auctioner, Golden successfully advanced during the preliminary round of bid calling at the Saturday competition in San Marcos.
He then advanced with nine other semi-finalists to the interview portion where last year’s champion posed a set of questions to the contestants, according to a press release.
The panel of five judges then combined the scores of the two events to determine five finalists to compete live during the Saturday banquet.
Golden and the other finalists each sold three items and were scored again on their poise, speed and rhythm, clarity, voice control, appearance and other traits.
In a close competition of exceptionally talented individuals, Golden’s engaging chant and professional demeanor set him apart from the rest and earned him the title of champion, the press release stated.
Golden describes himself as having split occupations, serving as a crop consultant in the summers and auctioning during winter months. It’s a life he believes is well spent.
“Mainly auctions are just fun, and I enjoy it all,” he said.