David Whitley named WAA state champ

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
 
Newcastle High School 1983 graduate David Whitley was named the 2020 Wyoming Auctioneer Association State Champion at the association’s 25th annual convention Jan. 9-11 in Cheyenne.
Five judges, composed of one auctioneer and four members of the public who attend auctions, oversaw the contest. When all was said and done, the judges liked Whitley’s performance the best and crowned him the winner. He said he received a trophy and belt buckle for his accomplishment. 
The convention was more than just a contest, however. Whitley said that they were privileged to hear from several speakers, including an opening ceremony with the governor. A national speaker also came to inform the attendees how they could take advantage of the digital age and use social media to promote their businesses. The goal of the association is to equip the auctioneers, so they can “better serve the public through education.”
Whitely said auctioneers are always trying to broaden their scope of knowledge on various things from “grandma’s estate” to million-dollar properties, so they can have a better understanding of what they’re selling and suggest fair prices. One speaker at the convention lectured on antique license plates, for example. 
Whitely enjoys the trade because one week, he said, he might be auctioning off a lumber yard, and the next week, he’s brushing up his technology skills to sell computer chips. 
“We’re always learning about stuff, and I really enjoy that,” Whitely said.
He enjoys selling “grandma’s estate” because it is a treasure hunt where one never knows what might be found. Another aspect of auctioneering that Whitley enjoys is “being able to help people” by clearing out loads of unwanted goods.
Some clients are overwhelmed with the amount of stuff they received from a recent death in the family, usually someone who grew up during the Depression and tends to hoard things, and they are nearly in tears about what to do. 
“We’re really problem solvers,” Whitley said. “We’re able to bring closure and give them some money.”
It makes him happy knowing his services are helping others, he said. 
Whitley got his start in the auctioneering enterprise shortly after high school. He attended the University of Wyoming, and he’s been auctioneering ever since. 
“I’ve been an auctioneer basically since I was 21,” he said. 
Whitley has auctioned at many events, including a car auction in Scottsville, Arizona, and also serves on a committee for the National Auctioneers Association, whose mission is “to provide critical resources to auction professionals that will enhance their skills and successes,” according to the website. 
Through his experience with the
NAA, Whitley has traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of the auctioneers — and met former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. 
Whitley now lives in Colorado, where he runs his business, Rocky Mountain Estate Brokers, but his heart will always be in Wyoming, and he frequently does business in Wyoming. 
“I’m never going to be a Coloradan,” he said. 
This coming summer, Newcastle will be hosting an all-school reunion on July 4, and Whitley plans on attending as the auctioneer, something he has done at the event for three years. 
“I really enjoy that (reunion) because my father was pretty instrumental in getting that started,” Whitley said. “They asked me to do (the auction), and I plan on being there.” 
The auction’s purpose is to raise funds to help kids in Newcastle schools and provide scholarships. 
Anyone interested in Whitley’s business can check out his website at whitelyauction.com to learn more.