AQHA Directors Emeriti and Directors at Large Elevated

Amarillo, Texas, April 7, 2005 –Two AQHA Directors were elevated to Director Emeriti and four became Directors at Large at the 2005 AQHA Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, in March.

Within the AQHA Board of Directors is a category established as Director Emeritus. This status is held by individuals who have served AQHA faithfully as an elected director, international district director or international appointed director and who have reached the age of 70, having served the previous 10 consecutive years as an elected director. Those who are elevated to Director Emeritus hold a lifetime tenure provided that he or she has Directors Emeritus status and are also awarded AQHA life memberships.

AQHA Directors at Large are individuals who have served 20 cumulative years as an elected director, international district director or appointed international director. At the end of the 20th year, directors automatically receive designation as Director at Large and serve with lifetime tenure on the Board of Directors.

Directors
Emeriti Dorvan Solberg, North Dakota

An AQHA Director since 1993, Dorvan served on AQHA’s Marketing and Public Information Committee until last year when he was appointed to the newly created AQHA Public Policy Committee. Dorvan serves in the House of Representatives for North Dakota and has served in this capacity for five terms. A resident of Ray, North Dakota, Dorvan has been an AQHA-approved judge for 28 years and also holds a judges card with NCHA.

Alfonso Adame, Mexico

Alfonso has been an AQHA Director for 10 years serving on both AQHA’s Show and International Committees. He has been active in AQHA-approved competition in Mexico and has, on numerous occasions, earned breeder and owner awards from the Mexico Quarter Horse Association. Horses of Alfonso’s have competed numerous times at the AQHA World Championship Show.

Directors at Large

Al Dunning, Arizona

An AQHA-approved judge, breeder, trainer and professional horseman, Al Dunning has garnered numerous awards in the AQHA and NCHA show arenas. He has served on AQHA’s Show Committee, including a term as its chair. Currently, Al serves on the AQHA Judges Committee, and he also has served on the AQHA Hall of Fame Selection Committee. In 1996, Al was elected by his peers, as AQHA’s Professional Horseman of the Year.

Al hails from Scottsdale, Arizona.

Joyce Wyatt, Pennsylvania

Joyce, too, has served on AQHA’s Show committee as its chair and served on the AQHA Hall of Fame Selection Committee. An active member of her state affiliate, Joyce is an AQHA-approved judge and was selected by her peers as Professional Horsewoman of the year in 2002.

Joyce, and her late husband, Okie, have bred, trained and shown numerous horses to AQHA honors from their facility in Claysville, Pennsylvania.

Ray Sutton, South Dakota

From Gettysburg, South Dakota, Ray has served on AQHA’s Youth Committee and currently serves on the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee. Ray is an AQHA-approved judge and has raised and trained horses to numerous AQHA honors.  He and his family have been active in the equine and cattle industries operating a large ranch in South Dakota.

Dave Whitaker, Tennessee

Also an AQHA-approved judge, Dave has served on three AQHA committees. Dave first served on the Youth Activities Committee and served as its chair, before moving to the International Committee. After serving on the International Committee, Dave willingly moved to the Equine Research committee where he currently serves.

In 2002, Dave was recognized for his contributions to the American Quarter Horse industry by receiving the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s Merle Wood Humanitarian Award.

For more information on AQHA Directors, visit www.aqha.com or call (806) 376-4888.