1962-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1962 June Voice | Page 5

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Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse
Mares At Rodgers' Farm Account For 8 Champions
(Continued From Page 2)
sired by old Merry Boy out of Nell
Bramblett and foaled at Wartrace in
1937. Site won top honors through­
out the land in the early years of
horse shows with S. W. Beech, Jr.,
riding, and once sold for the highest
price ever paid for a Tennessee Walk­
ing Horse (up to that time). Mr.
and Mrs. R. F. Ellis of Orrville, Ala.,
owned her as the grand champion.
She was ridden to the title by Winston
Wiser.
Merry Walker, previously men­
tioned, which accounts for three titles
won by Go Boy's Shadow and Rodgers’
Perfection.
Merry Rose, the “mother” of the
dazzling gelding, Talk of the Town,
ridden to three World’s Grand Cham­
pionships in 1951-52-53 by Steve Hill
of Beech Grove, Term. He was by
Midnight Sun, sold for six times,
once for S200. He was owned by L.
A. Chenell and E. P. Riley of Gaines­
ville, Ga., when he won the title. He
was bred by Dr. R. M. Nock of Salis­
bury, Md.
Merry Sue, "mother” of Sun’s Jet
Parade, 1957 World’s Grand Cham­
pion ridden by Vic Thompson for G.
G. Garbelbled of New Orleans, La.
Jet Parade teas sired by Midnight Sun,
bred by Wayne Longmire of Knox­
ville, Tenn. Merry Sue was by old
Merry Boy out of Dainty Lady, a
Giovanni daughter.
Other Prominent Broodmares
Some of the other prominent brood­
mares seen at the Rodgers’ farm in­
clude:
Panola, mother of Midnight Mack
K (who sired two World’s Grand
Champions—with titles won in suc­
cessive years to boot—Rodgers' Per­
fection in 1959 and Mack K’s Hand­
shaker in 1960) ;
Maid of CotLon, World’s Champion
3-year-old mare for Dr. N. B. Harde­
man who once turned down a §25,000
offer for her;
Genius Lovely Night, Amateur
World's Champion in 1958 for Vir­
ginia Jones of Canton, Ga.;
Diamond Lil, Junior Champion of
the World in 1943, mother of Mister
Sensation;
Big Man’s Velvet, another prime
competitor of yesteryear;
And there are many others with
fine show records.
The Porter Rodgers’ family has
been prominently identified with
Celebration participation since this
great show's early years. He served as
a judge at the 1949 Celebration and
every member of his family has been
listed among ribbon winners there.
A Rodgers’ entry, Martha Wilson,
won fourth in the 3-year-old mare
class of 1946 and sixth in the Junior
Championship Stake with Toby Green
riding.
In 1947 Porter Rodgers, Jr., now a
brain surgeon resident at a Little
Rock hospital, rode Rose Nite to
third among Walking Ponies and Dr.
Rodgers himself placed second in the
Owner-Amateur class on Martha Wil­
son. Later that night the horse placed
seventh in the Grand Championship
Stake with another rider.
Other Rodgers' ribbons during the
years included Porter, Jr., winning
the Amateur Class, exhibitor to judge,
in 1958, on Rodgers’ Go Boy. In that
same year Anne Rodgers won fourth
in the Walking Pony class on Anne’s
Sweetie Pie and Mrs. Rodgers placed
tenth in the Owner-Amateur Lady
Riders class with Rodgers' Lady Go.
The Rodgers children competed for
years—often ■winning ribbons.
Perfection made his debut in 1957
with Webb riding him to sixth in the
2-year-old Championship Stake. In
1958 he placed third in the 3-year-old
stallion class and second in the
World’s Junior Championship Stake.
Then he swept botlt the 4-year-old
stallion class and the World's Grand
Championship in 1959.
The 1960 Celebration saw Rodgers’
Go Boy placing seventh in the 4-year-
old stallion class and tenth in the
Junior Championship Stake. Go Boy’s
Flash placed tenth in the four-year-
old geldings class, and Radiant Lady
was fourth in the four-year-old mare
class.
sees (reads) and hears. He is also
blessed with abundant courage and a
spirit of adventure. At Searcy he has
built a 100-bed hospital that serves
a thriving community and a prosper­
ous county (White County). His hos­
pital and his farm were regarded as
civic institutions—great assets to the
area.
His farm facilities include a striking
rock, ranch-style house for Joe Webb,
his beautiful, blonde wife, Nell, and
her brood of five lovely children, ages
three and one-half to eleven. Joe and
Nell were married in her first quarter
at Harding College. Nell came from
Stillwater, Okla. Joe is from South
Arkansas where he was raised up with
horses, his dad being a rural mail
carrier for 43 years. Joe and Nell
Webb, young people in the Tennes­
see Walking Horse industry, will make
history for years and years.
Mother Asks Help
(Continued From Page 1)
went or why, and fear he isn't living.
Carrying considerable money at time
of disappearance.
“Fear he might have become men­
tally deranged, or met with foul play.
“Any information will be much ap­
preciated.
“His mare is due to foal on June 13.
She is Roan Allen breeding and so
intelligent, as well as beautiful in
action.
“Sincerely
“Mrs. Lloyd Sexton,
Route 4, Paris, 111.
Phone 39574 Paris . .
"P.S. If anyone does have information.
caLls us collect.”
(Note—We have assured Mrs. Sexton that
the Voice will do all possible to help find
her boy. The Tennessee Walking Horse
World is full of people who will be her
friends—will go out of their way a real long
way to help find William and get him into
communication with his Mother. BAG).
“Prescription” 7th In
2-Year-Old Stake
In 1961 Doctor’s Prescription took
seventh in the Championship 2-year-
old Stake and eighth in the 2-year-
New Friend Of Walkers
old stallion class. Sharon Webb,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Webb,
“Having recently purchased the
placed ninth among Juveniles Riding fine mare, Miss Half Moon, my first
Walking Horses. She was then 10 Walker, I am more than interested in
years old.
your publication,” writes Mrs. Alta
Dr. Rodgers has two personal quali­ Jones, 3637 Walnut Ave., Carmichael,
ties that have served him well in his Calif. (Welcome, Mrs. Jones. You
Tennessee Walking Horse business. have many California Iriends who
He possesses a photographic memory— will welcome you also, I am sure.
that appears to retain everything he BAG.)