The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce the inaugural recipient of the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. Longtime supporter of Reining and one of NRHA’s leading breeders, Sally Brown, was presented with the historic award at her home in Maple Plain, Minnesota, on June 27. Under normal circumstances, the award would have been presented at the 2008 NRHA Convention, but Brown was critically ill so Dr. Steve Harris traveled to Minnesota to present her with the distinguished award. Past RHSF President Frank Costantini, longtime friend Tim McQuay and trainer/partner Troy Heikes relayed, by phone, their favorite memories and thanked Brown for the tireless work she has done for the Reining horse industry.
Unfortunately, on Monday, July 16, the NRHA learned Sally Brown had passed away. She suffered from Progressive Multifocal Leukencephalopathy, a viral infection of the brain. “Words can not explain how much Sally will be missed. She shaped the sport of Reining and will always be remembered for her contributions. Sally is the perfect person to be presented with the first NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Buck Hazledine and her family,” said NRHA Executive Director Dan Wall.
Brown’s contributions to Reining are significant. Her Fox Meadow Farm has been home to some of reining’s most important broodmares and has produced countless champions. She has been known as an NRHA Leading Breeder since she was part owner of the legendary Hollywood Jac 86, the sire of NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Hollywood Dun It. Brown also supported the NRHA Sire & Dam Program each year by donating a breeding.
The namesake for the new NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award is also credited for his valuable contributions to Reining. After all, if it weren’t for Dale Wilkinson, the NRHA might not exist. Known as the “Father of modern-day Reining”, the NRHA Hall of Fame Committee felt Wilkinson was the perfect person to name the lifetime achievement award after. Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Doug Carpenter said, “Dale truly is the name of Reining, bringing family values and inspiration to the sport.” Carpenter continued, “His hard work, teaching and efforts to preserve our cultures have kept the sport alive.”
The Lifetime Achievement award is funded by the Reining Horse Sports Foundation and the first ten recipients will receive a likeness of Dale Wilkinson drawn by NRHA Professional Bryant Pace’s father, Bryant G. Pace.
