WHT Memorials

My thoughts and prayers are with Don's family at this sad time.He was a good horseman and a real nice guy .

I understand Joe Wright of Nachogdoches, Texas passed away at the age of 95. Joe was the owner of 1965 WGC Triple Threat and father of multi Celebration blue ribbon winner Jan Wright. He was also owner of the Lone Star Feed Co.

Thanks for the heads-up, MIB...


Joe Adams Wright
February 13, 1916 - May 15, 2011



Joe Adams Wright, age 95, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2011, after a short illness.

Graveside services will be at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning at the Sunset Memorial Mausoleum.

Mr. Wright was born to Marryatte Steele (M.S.) and Elizabeth Adams Wright, on February 13, 1916 in Staunton, Virginia. The Wright family moved to Nacogdoches, Texas in January of 1930 where Mr. M.S. Wright established Texas Farm Products Company, manufacturers of Lone Star Feeds and Fertilizers. After graduating from high school in 1933, Joe was employed by the family firm, the beginning of a lifetime vocation except for 38 months of service during World War II.

Joe entered the armed forces in 1942. After being accepted by the Naval Air Corps his first station as a cadet was in Athens, Georgia, a physical indoctrination facility. After three months in Athens, Joe was transferred to Millington, Tennessee, for flight training in aerobatics, flight formations, landings and take-offs. In January 1943, Joe was sent to Pensacola, Florida, where he received the remainder of his flight training. He was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Air Corps on September 17, 1943, and his first assignment was as a flight instructor in Pensacola.

Joe and Helen Crawford were married in Center, Texas on December 27, 1944, while Joe was stationed in Pensacola. Helen joined him there after their marriage and was with him during the remainder of his service. From Pensacola, Joe was transferred to the Patuxent Naval Air Transport Base in Maryland. His assigned duty was to transport the mail on DC-3;s. The normal route was from Newfoundland to Florida – sometimes to Bermuda. Once Joe flew a mail route to France in a DC-4.

On April 12, 1945, Joe was flying over Warm Springs, Georgia, where President Roosevelt vacationed, when he heard the news on the radio that the President had died – in the Warm Springs cottage. Joe remembered few harrowing experiences, but one was particularly memorable. On a night mission out of Pensacola his flight number had not been called, and his flight was thought to be lost. However, there was a number mix-up and Joe and his crew arrived unharmed to a welcoming throng.
Joe accumulated 2,500 flight hours on various aircraft while in the service and was discharged from the Naval Air Corps in November of 1945 as a Lt. J.G., having served 38 months. Thereupon he returned to Nacogdoches and rejoined the family business. Joe remembered his years in the service as some of the happiest of his life.

In June of 1945, Joe and his brother, Tom, were named to the Board of the Directors of Texas Farm Products Company, while both were still in the service. Upon returning home, Joe became plant manager, with the title of Vice President, in charge of Production. In 1970, Joe was elected President of Texas Farm Products and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1983.

In addition to plant duties, Joe had a keen interest in real estate and was responsible for the formation of multiple land-holding partnerships for the Wright family. One well known development which Joe was instrumental in creating is the Colonial Hills subdivision.

Joe had many areas of interest. True to his rearing he was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Board of Fredonia State Bank for many years. Joe was also an avid hunter and especially enjoyed quail hunting in South Texas.

Joe also was an enthusiastic member and held several offices in the Nacogdoches Horse Show Association during the years when the "Greatest Little Horse Show on Earth" put Nacogdoches on the map. He and his daughter, Jan were widely recognized in walking horse competitions in the 1960's. Jan won seven world championships in Shelbyville, Tennessee and many State Fair championships. In addition, Joe's horse, Triple Threat, was judged the World' Champion Tennessee Walking Horse in 1965.

Another event that captured Joe's interest was the Masters Golf Tournament. He attended this premier PGA event for 50 consecutive years beginning in 1957.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Helen Crawford Wright; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Wright, Sr; a sister, Elizabeth Wright Rinker; and two brothers, M. Steele Wright, Jr. and Dick Wright.

He is survived by a daughter, Jan Wright Kingham, and her husband, Jim Kingham; two grandchildren, James Anthony (Jay) Kingham, Jr. and his wife Ashley; and Jill Elizabeth Kingham; one brother, Tom; nephews, Ray Rinker, Richard Wright, and M.S. (Bud) Wright, III; nieces, Kitty Wright Dippel, Peggy Wright Pollock, Malinda Wright, Mary Wright Cason, and Sandy Wright Smith; and a host of grand nephews and nieces.

Shirley Thorn, Vinnie Curtis, and La Keesha Curtis are valued family friends and Joe's family is most grateful for their dedication to Joe's care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Presbyterian Church or to the charity of your choice.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Joe-Wright&lc=1787&pid=151079709&mid=4672062

Just had a call from Debbie & Sonny Sanders from Brownsville, Alabama. They lost their son Mike yesterday. Prayers be with them during this difficult time.

Sorry to hear of Mike Sanders' passing, losing a child is a parent's worst fear. My prayers are with them.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Horse-Show-In-Heaven-by-Priscilla-Talley/207205042651196?ref=hnav

Folks,

Priscilla Talley has created a Facebook page that serves as a Memorial for all those in the Walking Horse Industry that have passed on. Priscilla says, "Please friends......Join this page and add Memorial photos of those you knew who are now up at the HORSE SHOW IN HEAVEN!"

Priscilla has asked me to serve as co-admin of this page in the interim to help her promote this great cause. The page is free, of course, and anyone who has a loved one that was in the walking horse industry in any capacity or level is welcome to post or send in photographs of their loved ones who have passed on. I have added a link to the Memorial on the WHT Blog. You may send the photos to me at this address, if you so wish: timmbur@gmail.com

A memorial album will be created in their honor and anyone may comment on each and every photo. Videos may also be posted. Already several memorials have been created, including those for Priscilla's father, the late Herschel Talley, Bud Dunn, Jimmy Ellis, Jumbo Boyd and others. I hope to include an album for Vic Thompson in the week to come. I invite all of you to make good use of this Memorial. I think it will be something very special.

If anyone out there wishes to send me photos of a loved one from the walking horse industry, you can always send them to me AT ANY TIME at this address:

timmbur@gmail.com


A photo album will be created within a day or two on the Horse Show In Heaven page.

Just added a new Memorial Photo Album in honor of Vic Thompson:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213153622056338.52646.207205042651196

Just added a new Memorial Album of Jean's husband, the late Elton Lee

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213320162039684.52705.207205042651196

Saw on the Chat where longtime trainer Lucky Scott passed away.My thoughts and prayers are with his family.He was a good horseman and a heck of a good guy .

Just added a Memorial Album for Edgar Poe, our member Rhinestone's father.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.215041181867582.53057.207205042651196

Mr. Lynn "Lucky" Scott

Mr. Lynn "Lucky" Scott, age 57, of Shelbyville, died Friday, June 24, 2011, at Heritage Medical Center.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Elder Jason Scales will officiate, with burial to follow in Willow Mount Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to service Monday.

He was born March 19, 1954, in Bedford County, to the late Murray Lane and Ruth Scott. He was trainer of Tennessee Walking Horses for over forty years.

He is survived by two sons, Jamie Scott and his wife Brooke, and Michael Scott, and his wife Shay, all of Murfreesboro; a daughter, Sonya Scott Deosio, of Shelbyville; four brothers, James Scott, Glenn Scott, Valentino Scott, and his wife Michelle, and Treal Scott, and his wife Cynthia, all of Shelbyville; three sisters, Linda Maxwell, Sybil Scoot, and Darlene Harris, and her husband Steven, all of Shelbyville; four grandchildren.

Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements, 931-684-8356.

OK.........I found photos of Tony Carter (makethecut), Melvin Wallace (Big Daddy) and Stephen Arnold (Big'n) and have created a Memorial to all our WHT Members who have passed on. We miss them greatly. Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.215422311829469.53230.207205042651196

Brings back memories of our Celebration dinner. We had a great time. Super nice people.

Evelyn Rose Miller



Evelyn Rose Miller, 80, the wife of Gilbert Miller, passed away Thursday at the Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington.

Mrs. Miller was born on July 23, 1931 in Madison County, the daughter of the late Sam and Irene Campbell Rose. She was a homemaker, loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She was a member of the Madison Hills Christian Church.

Survivors include her husband: Gilbert Miller; two daughters: Dee Dee Miller-Sale of Lewisburg, TN., and Paula Miller of Richmond; two sisters: Jane Land and Jenny Gentry both of Richmond; four grandsons: Ben Masters, Ross Masters and Clay Masters of Richmond and Miller Sale of Lewisburg, TN., several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM Monday at the Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Home, 328 West Main Street, with Rev. Martin Frazer officiating. Burial will follow in the Richmond Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 PM Sunday at the Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Home. Serving as Pallbearers will be: Mark Gentry, Mike Land, Ben Masters, Clay Masters, Ross Masters and Miller Sale. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be: Mike McKnight, Tom Mattingly, Jimmy Lee Johnson, Mike Miller, James Masterson, Paul Motley, Raymond Anderson, Dr. James Salter, Jim Barnes, Donald Edwards, Dan Reynolds, Mike Frazier and John Harris.

http://cpcfh.com/pages/current_obituaries.php?obitid=596

My condolences to Dee Dee and her family...hard to lose a parent no matter how old we are.

This morning I got the sad news that my friend J.L.Conkle had passed away.He was a regular at the sales in Middle Tn. for yrs. buying and selling horses to take to Fl. He brought more Walking horses to Fl. than anybody.He was a part of my family and he and his family made me a part of theirs and I loved him.I loved talking about the old days with him.You know Trivia!!!You will be missed Poppa!!!

Sure hate to hear this about Poppa, many memories of him in his hat, jumper and with his cigar...Conkles are a tight family, my prayers go out to them.

James L. Conkle

CONKLE, James L., 79, passed away August 29, 2011, in Dade City, Fla. Mr. Conkle was the owner and operator of "Conkles Walking Horse Farm" and was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his wife Doris Conkle of San Antonio, Fla.; four daughters, Donna Conkle of San Antonio, Fla., Debbie (Charles) Deschamps of Brooksville, Fla., Theresa (Ken) Statham of Darby, Fla., and Tamara Conkle of Darby, Fla.; a son, James L. Conkle Jr. of Tampa; three grand-children, Kenneth Statham, Desiree Deschamps and Keith Statham; four brothers; and three sisters. Visitation will take place 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2011, at Whitfield Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sunshine State Racking, Walking and Spotted Saddle Horse Association.

Guestbook: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/tbo/guestbook.aspx?n=james-conkle&pid=153379025&cid=full

Curtis Boyd Hudgins
November 23, 1935 - September 11, 2011



Curtis Boyd Hudgins, 75, life-long resident of Gainesville, GA, passed away September 11, 2011. He was born in 1935 to Curtis and Claire Hudgins. He is remembered for being a trainer of champion show horses, many he trained at the Hudgins family farm on Lakeview Dr., now Lakeview Academy’s baseball field. He was inducted into the North East Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Hall of Fame in 2002. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gainesville. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by three children, Claire Hudgins Christa (Dr. Michael Christa) of Power Springs, GA, Richard T. Hudgins of Tullahoma, TN, and Kathy Hudgins Manzel of Macon, GA; a sister, Pat Hudgins McCord of Gainesville; grandchildren, Catlin and Connor Christa and Lauran Hudgins; a great-grandchild and a niece. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta and on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at Little-Davenport Funeral Home from 6pm-8pm and the funeral service will be at Little-Davenport Funeral Home on Thursday, September 15, 2011, at 11am. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Gainesville. Contributions can be made to Altus Hospice, 5411 Northland Drive, Atlanta, GA 30342. West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory, Marietta and Little-Davenport Funeral Home, Gainesville in charge of arrangements. Online guest book available at:

http://www.westcobbfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/WestCo1/obit.cgi?user=456283Hudgins

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Hudgins family at this sad time.Boyd was a GREAT man and a GREAT trainer.He always had a top string of hosses!You knew when Boyd showed up at a show the water just got deeper!He was a good'un and will be missed.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Hudgins family at this sad time.Boyd was a GREAT man and a GREAT trainer who always had a top string of hosses.You knew when Boyd got there the water just got deeper.He was a good'un and he will be missed!

I tried to post once and it wouldn't let me now I have 2!Oh well Boyd was a good'un and probably deserved 2!!

He deserves 2 for sure. I only met him a few times, but was super nice and his stock was always in top shape and presented well.

Boyd was a great trainer and a real competitor he showed to win ,Always had a great string of horses.I worked for him when i was a kid ,learned a lot from Boyd. He will be missed.