Page 76 - January 2022

202 Y E A R i n 1 REVIEW
Remembering The Ones We Lost
KAREN UTECHT
JANUARY
KAREN UTECHT
(Jan. 4) - American Paint Horse Association Director of Racing Karen Utecht
passed away on Jan. 4. Karen worked
for Speedhorse in the early 1980’s and
was instrumental in initiating an online database. She began working for the APHA in 1996 in the registration/processing department, moving to the performance department as racing coordinator and in 2003 was promoted to director of racing. Karen oversaw the creation of the successful Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program (PBRIP). In honor of her dedication to Paint racing, Karen was awarded the 2020 Paul Harber Distinguished Service Award.
JUDI GREEN
(Jan. 5) - Judith Rae “Judi” Green
passed away Jan. 5 at the age of 80. Judi graduated from high school in Kennewick, Washington, and in 1958 was named
Miss Rodeo Washington State. In 1962,
she helped her father start SunDowns
Race Track in Kennewick, and in 1963
she received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and also married Peter Green. She received her Masters of Bilingual Studies from Texas Women’s University in 1990 and retired in 2003 after 38 years of teaching. Judi was the trainer
of several AQHA Youth Champions, was
a judge for the AQHA from 1975-1985,
and was the breeder, trainer and owner of racehorses with over $1 million in earnings.
ROBERT “BOB” WILLIAMS JR.
(Jan. 12) - Robert Clayton “Bob” Williams Jr. passed away at the age of 86 on Jan. 12. Born in Oklahoma, Bob graduated high school and went to work at the Oklahoma National Stockyards where he bought and
JUDI GREEN ROBERT “BOB” WILLIAMS JR. ROBERT “BOB” URICH
sold cattle. He met his wife, Peggy Jean,
in 1953 and they married in 1956. He was drafted into the Army in 1957, tried out for the Honor Guard and in 1958 finished first in his class. After his discharge, he owned and operated a successful trucking company. He began raising and training Quarter Horses in the 1970’s, became assistant trainer for Jack Brooks, and operated Bob Williams Racing. Bob was the owner & trainer of Strait From Texas, who won
the Bill Reed Memorial Stakes at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 2, 2016, during the All American Weekend.
FEBRUARY
NAN LANE
(Feb. 1) - Nannette M. Lane passed away at 71 years of age. Nan and her husband Terry own and operated TNL Farms in Bosque, New Mexico. Nan was a longtime supporter and member of the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and the Jockey Club.
ROBERT “BOB” URICH
(Feb. 9) - Bob Urich, 84, passed away. Bob grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, where he
met the love of his life Margaret Gillman. They were married in 1955, purchased some acreage and raised four children. Bob was
a skilled horseshoer. He shared his love for horses with his children, spending many weekends at horse shows. He and Margaret became involved with Quarter Horses
and had a successful breeding and racing program with multiple stakes winners. Bob served as a board member for the Iowa Quarter Horse Association and he and Margaret are in the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame and the IQHRA Hall of Fame. After Margaret’s passing in 2006, Janet Rinehart entered his life, and they shared a loving relationship until her passing in Dec. 2020.
CLAUDE WAYNE MORIEN
(Feb. 17) - Claude Wayne Morien passed away at the age of 81. Wayne enjoyed
a long and distinguished career in law enforcement that spanned 45 years. He served in the army before moving to
the LA State Police, where he worked
his way up the ranks to Major. In 1991, Morien was elected Sheriff of Evangeline Parish where he served for 17 years as the longest serving sheriff. Morien was
a long-time member of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association.
HOWARD LEE DUCKETT
(Feb. 17) - Howard Lee Duckett, 77,
of Central City, Iowa, passed away
at his home surrounded by family. Howard was a lifetime member and past president of the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association. He worked as General Superintendent for Lear Corporation for 25 years and was a Boy Scouts Den Leader.
NEAL MCFADDEN
(Feb. 23) - Louisiana horseman Prentiss Neal McFadden passed away at the age of 77 following a short illness. Born in Ruston, Louisiana, Neal graduated from Louisiana Tech University. He began his career as a pharmaceutical salesman and worked for Pfizer, Abbot Labs and Beecham Pharmaceuticals. In 1978, he established General Veterinary Supply in Lafayette. He and his wife Mary then began McFadden Farm, raising Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Neal
served on the Animal Health Board of Louisiana, as well as on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders board for over 30 years, serving as President, First Vice President and Second Vice President in that time.
74 SPEEDHORSE January 2022
Emily Blankenship, Speedhorse
Speedhorse
Speedhorse
Coady Photography