BILL TUNE
ACTIVE YOUNG CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADER HEADS UP CELEBRATION
During the week of the Celebration , the town of Shelbyville , Tennessee calls “ time out ” from the usual routine of business and regular activities and all hands turn out to assist in the management of one of the biggest civic projects in the land . . . the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration . There are many key people involved in the managment of this gigantic project , but one young man is outstanding for his personal interest and contribution every year . Mr . Bill Tune , 36 year old President of the Celebration Incorporated , is a man of many talents and ambitions . He is an investment broker and President of Tune and Company of Shelbyville and in addition to being active in Methodist church , the Rotary Club , Elks and the Chamber of Commerce , finds time to take speaking engagements throughout the Southeast , speaking on the Celebration and it ’ s development .
Bill Tune comes well qualified to handle the complex job of being “ ramrod ” for the Celebration . His father , the late W . Clyde Tune , Sr . was one of the founders and was a member of the original executive committee that first handled the show . Bill was , at one time , a most active horseman , and has showed both gaited and Walking Horse Stock . He started showing horses and ponies in 1937 and rode until college and the war forced him to withdraw After returning from
BORN AXD RAISED WITH THE CELEBRATION ... The Bill Tune family , perhaps more ( hart any other , has grown accustomed to the “ big show .” From left to right — Mrs . ( Dot ) Tune ; Buck , age nine ; Ann , age thirteen ; Mr . Bill Tune and daughter Alice , age five .
the service , Bill began showing horses again for the Blythwood farms of Mr . and Mrs . David Neal of Cleveland , Tennessee . His last show was in 1948 when he won the five gaited amateur stake on a mare from Blythwood . He owned and showed TENNESSEE TRAVELER to win the first World Champion Pony Class and also showed such horses as : DAN DUNN , a Walking Pony ; DIPSEY DOODLE , a three gaited pony ; JOE PETE , a three gaited pony that won the Tennessee State Fair three years in a row ; JOLLY GIRL , a five gaited pony ; GOLDEN CALA- RAMA , a fine harness and five gaited pony that won both these classes all over the country including the Lexington Junior League , Memphis Le Bonure , Cincinati , Atlanta and went for her last year and a half undefeated in either class . These outstanding horses and ponies are just some of the many that Bill has trained and showed . He did most of his own training ( with some assistance at times ) and enjoyed it thoroughly . His riding activities now consist of pleasure riding only , as Celebration officials feel that members of the board should not remain active in the show ring . He has judged both Walking Horse and Gaited Horse Shows but no longer participates .
Bill Tune has been personally associated with the Celebration since 1948 and has served as Assistant Ringmaster , Ringmaster , Barn Manager , and Horse Show Division Chairman and has been President since 1960 . Bill met his wife Dot , while attending Vanderbilt University . They have been married for fifteen years and have three children . Dot Loves horse shows but does not show horses . She is one of the most dependable “ workhorses ” of the Celebration organization and assists in many functions . The children all have their own specific horse activities and each loves the sport . Ann , thirteen years old , spent four weeks at Hidden Valley Camp , just outside Chattanooga , this summer and spent a lot of time in the saddle . She plans to start showing soon . Son , William III , better known as “ Buck ”, is nine years old and has a pleasure pony with which he placed 5th at the recent P . T . A . Show . He wants to start showing more often . Daughter Alice , age five , has been riding for two years and thoroughly intends to show “ Bucks " pony next year . The entire family enjoys a different phase of the horse business and obviously is very close to the affairs of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration .
AUGUST , 1964 31