The American Quarter Horse Journal, March 22, 2007 – The American Quarter Horse Association elected its 2007 Executive Committee on March 6 during the 2007 AQHA Convention in Houston. Frank Merrill of Purcell, Oklahoma, took the reins as the Association’s president, and the committee welcomed new member Dick Monahan.

Merrill has been involved in the American Quarter Horse industry for more than 40 years. With his wife, Robin, the Merrills operated Windward Stud Ltd. in Purcell, Oklahoma, until October 2006 when the ranch sold. Currently, Merrill serves as CO-CEO of Cowan Select Horses LLC at Windward Stud Ltd. 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 committee, marketing and public information committee, and public policy council. He also served on the nominations and credentials committee as well as the Hall of Fame selection committee.

First 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 40 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. He is a past president and director of the Michigan Quarter Horse Association.  Mumy was recently appointed to the Michigan Equine Partnership, a coalition to promote the enhancement of Michigan horse racing, showing and breeding interests through a Department of Agriculture grant.                        Mumy is the owner of a specialized environmental consulting firm and serves national and internationally based certification clients in the United States, Mexico, England and Canada.

Second Vice President 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.

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.

Johannes bought his first American Quarter Horse in 1979 and has been involved in the industry ever since. He has earned championships in German and European competition in western pleasure, trail and cutting.

Johannes became an equally successful breeder. At their JOMM Ranch, Johannes and Astrid breed and raise all-around horses as well as reining horses. Johannes was named DQHA Leading Breeder for 10 years and was Champion of Champions six times. He was key in organizing and conducting one of the largest AQHA-approved shows in Europe since 1986 and has hosted AQHA judging seminars since 1983.

Orgeldinger has served on the affiliate council, the stud book and registration committee and the nominations and credentials committee. He became an AQHA Director in 1996. Orgeldinger is the owner of a sand and gravel business in Germany.
New member Dick Monahan is a lawyer and has been heavily involved in racing horses and promoting racing in the Northwest. An AQHA Director at Large, Monahan has served the past two years as chair of the racing committee and racing council and has chaired the nominations and credentials committee.  Monahan and his wife, Brenda, have raised and raced American Quarter Horses for more than 30 years.
Monahan played football for the University of Idaho, where he received bachelor’s degrees in zoology and chemistry before graduating from the University of Idaho law school.

For more information about the AQHA Executive Committee or to read about highlights from the 2006 AQHA Convention, visit /aqha.com .
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.