Denise, a native Texan, currently resides in Andrews, Texas.  She retired from the State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in June 2018 after serving 30 years with her last 5 years of service as Director of the Audit Division.  After being invited to fish in the Panama International Billfish Tournament in November 2022 by her husband Bob and his teammate Bruce, Denise has become an avid angler and has fished in several tournaments in Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.  In Panama, she and her teammates placed 2nd in the November 2022 tournament, and she was awarded Top Lady Angler.  Placing in this tournament also awarded she and her teammates the opportunity to participate in the 2023 Offshore World Championship where they placed 10th.  

In November 2024, Denise and her Teammates returned to the Panama International Billfish Tournament where they placed 3rd and Denise was again awarded Top Lady Angler.   The team once again was awarded the opportunity to fish in the 2025 Offshore World Championship where they tied for 3rd place.  In November 2024, Denise and her team participated in the VII Campeonato Panamericano de Big Game Trolling Tournament held at the Tropic Star Lodge in Panama.  She and her team were awarded silver Team medals.