Jim joined the Air Force in 1946 and was stationed in Japan as a Cryptographer for fourteen months . In 1950 he was discharged in Tampa , Florida , and remained there to establish the Babb Sea Food Company , which catered to the hotel and restaurant trade with seafood specialties . This company grew until he set up the Babb & Treagle Sea Food Company in Akers , Louisiana , where they shipped seafood nationwide .
Like so many of our professional trainers have stated , the genuine love of horses lingered and Jim ’ s desire to work with them increased until finally he decided he must try his hand at the horse business . After much consideration and planning he closed his business in Louisiana and purchased a farm in Rogers , Arkansas where he began a snail public training and breeding operation . From this small beginning , Jim progressed in many phases of the horse business . In 1957 the Babbs moved to Springfield , Missouri , where he set up another stable and promoted Old Glory as a breeding stallion . In the spring of 1958 , Jim moved to Joplin and the Brownwood Stables where he really began to find himself as a trainer .
While at Brownwood , Jim became well-known for his training and showing of such horses as Pleasure ’ s Merry Boy , Top Hat , and Midnight Pleasure R . G . While here , Jim started some of the great horses of the breed , including the wellknown mare Top Talent . From 1958 until the death of Mr . CHARLES L . BROWN in 1962 , Jim Babb was trainer for Brownwood Stables and won top honors at major shows throughout the Mid- West , including the American Royal , Missouri State Fair , Omaha , Tulsa and many others .
After handling the complete dispersal of the Brownwood Stable stock , Jim moved to Jackson , Mississippi and again set up a training stable . While operating out of Mississippi , Mighty Sunbeam , trained by Jim Babb , was never beaten by a Mississippi horse and , under Jim ’ s guidance , CATHY BAILEY , talented young juvenile rider , won her classes at Montgomery , New Orleans and Dallas , and placed second at the Celebration . Jim handled the sale of Midnight Pleasure R . G . for one of the highest prices ever paid for a breeding horse .
Recognizing the great potential of the Mid-West as a growing center for Walking Horse activity , Jim Babb decided to return to Missouri and , in January of 1964 , moved to Carthage where he and Mr . W . G . ROBERTSON opened the Jim Babb Stables . Last year they sold over 65 horses , including a two-year-old that brought the highest price ever paid for a two-year-old in this state . Concentrating on top horses , the Jim Babb Stables captured- blues last year at Tulsa , Clinton , Jefferson City , the " Heart of America ” show , Springfield , Missouri State Fair , Lee ’ s Summit , Adrian , the " Saddle & Sirloin ” show in Kansas City , Ash Grove , Battesville , Oklahoma and Siloam Springs , Arkansas . Specializing in Juvenile and Amateur horses , Jim is a recognized judge in the A . H . S . A . and the T . W . H . B . & E . A . and , in the past , has judged some of the top shows in the country .
The Babb family loves the horse business , and Jim ’ s attractive wife , the former MARILYN JONES of Belton , Missouri , is an active supporter of her favorite " hoss trainer .” Although the mother of two small children ( Charles , 4f2 , and Johnny , 3 ), Marilyn tries to assist as much as possible in the stable business .
One of the best-liked members of the " pro ” ranks , Jim Babb is considered by all who know him as a reed asset to the business . With people such as Jim representing the Tennessee Walking Horse business and trying hard to expand interest and activities with the breed in the great Mid-West , we cannot see how the future can be anything but " great .”
Our thanks to JIM and MARILYN BABB for allowing us to present to readers of the VOICE this " Professional on Parade ” article .
NEW " SLEEPING SICKNESS ” VACCINE FROM FORT DODGE LABORATORIES
A new encephalomyelitis vaccine , said to mark the first improvement in 25 years in production of vaccines against " sleeping sickness ” of horses , has been placed on the market by Fort Dodge Laboratories , Fort Dodge , Iowa .
Encephalomyelitis viruses used in production of this new vaccine are grown in a tissue culture system comparable to that used in the preparation of poliomyelitis vaccine . Previously , " encephalo ” vaccines have been produced inembryonated chicken eggs .
Both Eastern and Western strains of the disease are incorporated in the new vaccine , which is expected to afford more reliable protection and , because it is more highly purified , is less likely to cause systemic or local reaction . It is marketed by Fort Dodge under the trade name " Encephaloid ” and sales are confined to veterinarians .
NOTICE
A request for a copy of the VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse magazine issue of January , 1963 , has been made by Mrs . Marian Bjerken , periodical librarian at the Middle Tennessee State College Library at Murfreesboro , Tennessee . This library is seeking to maintain a file of all issues ofthe VOICE , and this is its only missing copy . Any person who can supply this missing issue is requested to write to Mrs . Bjerken at the college in Murfreesboro - where a Horse Science School short course will be held in June , 1965 .
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