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VALE ~ GEOFF WILLIAMS by Ricky Glen ( Chairperson AQHA Hall of Fame )
We lost a long time AQHA member in July , Geoff Williams ( AQHA membership number 16544 ) passed away and has left a huge void in our industry .
Geoff has been involved with Quarter Horses since the early days of the AQHA , a talented horseman who was introduced to our breed and liked what he saw , he recognized the Quarter Horse for its temperament and its athletic ability to do every day stock work and to excel in the competition arena .
Geoff along with his wife , Lee , breed , showed and promoted the Quarter Horse in all aspects of the industry . In the early days , many would remember the baldy face Dell Mingo gelding , Traveler who carried Geoff to win major cutting events , western pleasure , trail , western riding and reining just to name a few . Geoff was partial to the Dell Mingo stallion imported by Texan , Eddie Wilson who stood him at stud at his New Frontier Stud at Bendemeer in New South Wales .
Geoff took a liking to this sires progeny and went on to show many others including Sage Dell , a well performed cutting and all round mare who was sold to John Friend who claims she was one of the greatest mares he has owned .
Other horses we remember are Isle B Good , Peppys Rattler and of course Embers To Ashes . Geoff and Lee have managed some outstanding properties in there time and also worked for Brian and Jenny Cobcroft at Parraweena Pastoral Company and they also did a stint in Western Australia with Peter Lloyd were Geoff found another sport he loved to do which was Wind Surfing . In 1998 , Geoff was inducted into the NCHA Heritage Hall of Fame for his personal contribution to the constant promotion of the cutting horse and he and Lee had never missed the NCHA Futurity and in the later years , they had there spot to the right hand side of the arena and was always chatting away to all who admired him over the years .
We will always remember this man who promoted our breed so well and too much success and the void which he has left is certainly easily filled with the wealth of knowledge that Geoff passed onto so many of us that knew him . To his wife Lee and to his family , our thoughts are with you at this time .
The AQHA would like to extend their condolences with the passing of a long time member , Donald Gunn .
Always larger than life , Donald was a horseman , we gained so much knowledge from him to help us further our abilities with horses , he had a keen eye for good horses and was responsible for some great horses imported to Australia by himself and by other people on his advice . I remember him at the NCHA Futurity in the USA were his horse , Kings Phillip who he had just purchased before the show made the finals .
VALE ~ DONALD GUNN by Ricky Glen ( Chairperson AQHA Hall of Fame )
He took Don Pooley who was catch riding him for Larry Reeder aside and I asked him what he said ? He told me that he told Don that he did not come all this way to see his horse loose a cow and that if he did , he would be dealing with him after the show , Kings Phillip placed 6th and Donald was justified in his purchase . We all have many memories of Donald and I am sure we will continue to share them for a long time to come .
To Jan , Jaime Gunn and Candice Gunn , our thoughts are with you all . Rest in peace Donald Gunn .
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU