The organizational meeting of a professional Walking Horse Trainers ’ Association was held at the Holiday Inn in Shelbyville . Tennessee on January 12 and 13 . The meeting was called by Mr . Vie Thompson , who had worked for several months in an effort to outline the need for such an organization * The result was the gathering of over a hundred of the nation ' s most prominent Walking Horse trainers who came from as far away as Ohio and North Carolina . The initial meeting was called to order by Mr . Thompson , after which Mr . W . O . Crawford of Montgomery- , Alabama took over to explain the need for such an organization .
The idea was well received and , after a report on a recent meeting of the American Horse Show Association which Mr . Thompson and Mr . Buddy Hugh , also of Shelbyville , attended , it was the general consensus that the trainers would definitely benefit from such an organization .
Mr . James Burns , prominent attorney from Shelbyville and a Walking Horse owner , was appointed as legal counsel and parliamentarian for the meeting . Working through the night with committees appointed to outline various phases of activity , Mr . Burns developed the charter
BOAR !) OF DIRECTORS — Front row , left to right . lack Short , Secretary-Treasurer , Shelbyville , Tenn .: Richard Mary , Baton Rouge , I . a .. Vic Thompson , Shelbyville , Tenn .; C . A Bobo Shelbyville . Tenn .. Bud Dunn . Florence . Ala .; Wink Groover , Etowah , Tenn . Back row . left to right S W Beech Belfast , Tenn ; Jimmy Holloway West , Miss .; Wallace Brandon , Franklin . Tenn . Jim Babb , fort Oglethorpe . Ga .; John T . Carter , Kingsport . Tenn .; Breach Fleming , Orlando , Fla ; and David Welsh . Mocksville . X c Not present for the picture was Boyd Hudgins , Gainesville . Ga .
OI I K LhS Left to right . C . A . Bobo , First Vice President ; Vic Thompson , President . lack Moor man . second \ ice president .
20 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse