Amarillo, Texas, March 10, 2006 – The American Quarter Horse Association elected its 2006 Executive Committee on March 7 during the 2006 AQHA Convention in Seattle. Walter Fletcher of Lakin, Kansas, took the reins as the Association’s president, and the Committee welcomed new member Johannes Orgeldinger. Orgeldinger is the first international member to serve on the committee.
Fletcher has been an AQHA Director since 1993. In 1995, he served on the racing rules and regulations subcommittee and has been an active member of the AQHA Racing Committee for more than 10 years, serving as its chairman for two years, and also served on the Racing Council for two terms.
Long active in the American Quarter Horse racing industry, Fletcher, in his own name, has bred 27 winners and the earners of $614,580. He raced five stakes winners, including 1990 champion 3-year-old filly Sweet N Special and Grade 1-winner Heza Ramblin Man, one of only five horses to win the prestigious Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1) more than once. Horses campaigned by Walter and his wife, Pat, have earned $1,288,691.
First Vice President Frank Merrill has been involved in the American Quarter Horse industry for more than 40 years. With his wife, Robin, the Merrills operate Windward Stud Ltd. in Purcell, Oklahoma. He has bred, owned and raised American Quarter Horse world and stakes champions and has participated in almost every AQHA discipline including racing, halter, roping, cutting, reining and other western and English events.
During his tenure on AQHA’s Board of Directors, Merrill has served on the Stud Book and Registration Committee, Racing Committee and Racing Council, Show and Contest Committee, Marketing and Public Information Committee and Public Policy Council. He also served on the Nominations and Credentials Committee, and on the Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
Second Vice President Ken Mumy and his wife, Maryellen, live in Metamora, Michigan, and have been actively involved with American Quarter Horses and AQHA for more than 35 years.
Mumy has served as an AQHA Director since 1996 and was appointed to the membership committee in 1992, serving as the vice chair from 2000 to 2003 and chairman from 2003 to 2004. He also served on the Hall of Fame committee and the governance task force and was a founding member of the Affiliate Council.
Mumy is president of FEA Management, an environmental auditing and engineering firm in Birmingham, Michigan.
Member Jim Helzer is CEO and President of JEH Stallion Station, JMH Investments and The Helzer Company. JEH Stallion Station is a commercial horse breeding operation, and the other companies are real estate and investment companies. He is past owner of JEH Company and past president of Eagle Supply Group.
Helzer served as chairman of the AQHA Racing Committee and Racing Council. He also is a member and past president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association and a member and past director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Jim and his wife, Marilyn, campaigned Refrigerator to two racing world champion titles, and today the gelding remains the racing all-time leading money earner at $2,126,309.
New member Johannes Orgeldinger and his wife, Astrid, own and operate JOMM Ranches in Grosswallstadt, Germany, as well as Main River Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas. They actively participate in cutting and reining competition and have won numerous European Championships.
Orgeldinger has served on the Affiliate Council, the Stud Book and Registration Committee and the International Committee. He also became an AQHA Director in 1996. Orgeldinger is the owner of a sand and gravel business in Germany.
For more information about the AQHA Executive Committee or to read about highlights from the 2006 AQHA Convention, visit aqha.com.
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