Eugene E. Kennedy, 99, of Taylorville, IL, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2012.

Mr. Kennedy and his father established Kennedy Pony Farm in 1919. From that start, Gene went on to great success as a trainer, breeder and showman of Hackney, Shetland and Welsh ponies.  Kennedy Pony Farm had a renowned breeding program for years, using top Shetland stallions such as E.R.F. Double Larigo and Hackney studs including the phenomenal Creation’s King, a leading sire for many years, and later May Day Creation and King’s Apollo.  Just a few of the noted champions that came from Kennedy Pony Farm include May Day Poppin’, King’s Gaiety, May Day Dividend, King’s Heir and Dark Rhythm, among many others.  Kennedy Pony Farm hosted one of the nation’s leading pony auctions for a number of years, sometimes at their farm in Taylorville, IL, and sometimes at the IL State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Several amazing champions moved through that sale including World Champion harness pony Tijuana Brass.

Gene was an internationally recognized horseman who participated in and judged many national shows, including the American Shetland Pony Congress.  Gene and his son, Patrick, are the only father and son pair to have both judged ASPC’s long-running Congress.

Over the years, Kennedy was active in many equine associations.  He was a past president of the American Hackney Horse Society and the Mid-West Hackney Assn.  He also belonged to the United Professional Horseman's Assn., the American Shetland Pony Club and the Illinois Horse and Pony Breeders and Exhibitors Assn. Gene was a charter member of the Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Assn. and charter member of the Taylorville FFA.

Gene was born December 31, 1912, in Taylorville, the son of Roy and Edna (Pope) Kennedy. He was a 1931 graduate of Taylorville Township High School. In 1935 he married Alice Carnahan of Mt. Vernon, IL. She preceded him in death in 1996.

Photo by Lavonne Parks

Andrea Severson and Robby Barth were married October 20 at the beautiful Little Log House Village near Hastings, MN.  The ceremony took place at the historic St. Boniface Church at the Village with several families from the horse show world in attendance.  Following the ceremony, the couple were driven around the village and to the reception at the Village Hall in a small wagon pulled by a team of spotted American Shetland ponies owned by Don Rudeen.  The reception included dinner and dancing with the pony show folks staying until the end.

Andrea Severson is the daughter of Clair and Linda Severson of Hastings, Minnesota. Robby Barth is the son of Marcia Barth of Sumner, Iowa and Sam Barth of Randolph, Minnesota.  Both families are involved with showing small equine.

William “Carroll” Basham of Excaliber Stables in Herscher, IL, passed away unexpectedly on May 22.  Basham was known for his extreme generosity, his love of family and his enjoyment of tractors, farming and small equine.

Carroll was born in 1945.  He graduated from high school in the mid-1960s and served in the United States Navy from February of 1970 through February of 1975.  He married his wife Pam in 1973, and, together, the couple had three children.

Carroll developed an interest in the farming industry at a young age and continued to enjoy farming througout his life. His interest in farming expanded to an enthusiasm for antique tractors and old farm shows. Basham served many years on the Kankakee Fair Board and was an integral part of coordinating the local fair’s queen pageant for many years.  He supported area youth in other activities such as 4-H.   He was also a member of the Cabery Water Fighting team and a a former member of the Catholic Church Council.

After the Basham family became heavily involved with competitively raising and showing small equine, Carroll enjoyed watching his kids with their ponies and especially enjoyed the equine babies that arrived every spring and summer. He was a proud member of the American Shetland Pony Club and American Miniature Horse Registry. Carroll looked forward to the Labor Day parade where he would drive his horse team every year.

Carroll is survived by wife, Pamela of Herscher, IL; children: Brian (Bobbi) Basham of Union Hill, IL; Brent Basham of Herscher, IL; and Brenda (Jason) Prince of Herscher, IL.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and two brothers.  Services were held for Carroll May 28 & 29 in Kankankee and burial followed at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.

Renowned horse show announcer Mark Bullington of Salem, OR, passed away May 14, 2012, following an ongoing illness.  Bullington was on vacation with family and friends at the time, living his life to the fullest despite worsening health.

The American Shetland Pony Club, Inc.’s, Breed Promotion committee posted the following statement regarding Bullington’s passing:

“Today we lost the voice of ASPC/AMHR, our Mark Bullington. Congress and Nationals will never quite be the same without his voice to announce our champions and our grand champions. It leaves a hole in our hearts and an empty chair at center ring. The Bullingtons, Sharon and Mark, are part of the ASPC/AMHR family, and Mark is forever in our hearts. Our condolences to Sharon and the rest of Mark’s family.”

Bullington was announcer for some of the ASPC’s biggest shows for many years.  He was voice of the American Miniature Horse Registry’s National Show, the largest small equine show in the world, from 1999 to 2011.  In 2000, Mark added the ASPC’s National Congress, one of the oldest breed championships in the United States, to his schedule.

Shetland and Miniature Horse enthusiasts responded quickly to the announcement of Bullington’s passing with many posts on the social networking site Facebook as well as on forums and websites devoted to small equine.

Phyllis L. Cox, matriarch of Gran-Vue Pony Farm in Alexandria, IN, passed away in April at the age of 92. 

Phyllis was born in Carmel, IN, on Oct. 13, 1919, and was the daughter of Roy and Lyda (Williams) Lamb. On Oct. 10, 1938, she married David Cox.

Steve Kildow wrote Society Pony to share the following regarding Mrs. Cox:

“Phyllis Cox and her husband owned Gran-Vue Pony Farm here in Alexandria.  They came to national prominence when they purchased the GREAT Shetland stallion SETH THOMAS at the William Seakamp dispersal sale.  They participated at the major Shetland shows throughout the Midwest and eastern United States.  Their son John initially trained the ponies, and then they hired Elmer Briggs.”

Kildow noted that the Cox family was the primary reason that the Kildow family got into the pony business.

In addition to showing society ponies, the Coxes also eventually participated in pony racing.  Outside of the pony business, Phyllis and David were co-owners of Cox’s Supermarket in Alexandria for many years. Mrs. Cox’s obituary described her as a loving Mother and Grandmother to her family.

Phyllis was a member of the Union Chapel Community Church where is had been the church organist for over 50 years and a former Sunday School teacher.  During her lifetime she had been a former 4H leader and held memberships in several community organizations.

Surviving are her sons: Kay (Sue) Cox and John (Beverly) Cox both of Alexandria and Phillip (Debbie Stone) Cox of Muncie. Also surviving her are several grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

She proceeded in death by her parents and her husband, David Cox in 2004.

Larry Jay Bacon, 74, passed away February 8, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky.  Bacon was a noted trainer of a staggering number of national and world champion ponies.  He was also a longtime leader in the United Professional Horsemen’s Association.

Bacon was born in Akron, IN, on May 20, 1937, a son of the late Russel and Helen Putnam Bacon.   He grew up in Akron and began his career with ponies there as a teenager. Like many successful pony trainers of his generation, Bacon began his pony work with American Shetlands.   After his high school graduation, he went to work for noted pony trainer Ernie Peel and Silver Mane Farm, owned by H.P. Kilkelly in Wisconsin.  In the late 50s, he joined the Terry Jean team as assistant to the great Armon Hetzel.

Time in the military briefly took Larry away from his equine pursuits.  In 1960 Bacon married Barbara. Around that time, he also completed his service to the Army and returned to the world of ponies with a training job at Knolland Farms, working their string of Shetlands and Hackneys.

Eventually, Bacon moved on from the world of Shetlands and made his mark at some of the most recognized Hackney farms in the business.  Some of his employers and clients in the Hackney world included Clover Leaf Farm, Kennedy Pony Farm, Mrs. J.A. Smith’s farm in California, Country Boys Stable, Paul Bakeman’s Merrywill Farm, Summerhill Farm in Arizona, Costello’s Holiday Farm and the Birtchers’ Rancho De Dios.

Ray Moeller, 83, of Cook, Nebraska passed away Monday, February 27, 2012.  This long-time pony man was born to John and Floyd (Blakeley) Moeller on Aug. 18, 1928, in Cook where he grew up.  Mr. Moeller graduated from Cook High School in 1945 and Lincoln School of Commerce in 1946.

He married Naomi Schreiner at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Syracuse, on Feb.  2, 1951.  She preceded him on Nov. 1, 2011.

The couple made their home in Cook where Ray owned and operated Moeller IGA until his retirement.  Moeller served in Nebraska’s Army National Guard from 1948 until 1974 when he retired with the rank of major.  He served on the school board for Cook and Nemaha Valley schools as well as his church’s board.  Moeller also participated in the Cook Commercial Club.

Ray enjoyed showing society ponies and developed many life-long friendships in this hobby. The Moeller family showed Shetlands and Hackneys as amateurs throughout the Midwest.  One of their noted winners was Ramble Ridge Bombadier.  The Moellers also participated as a family in the large and popular costume class at the Nebraska State Fair.  Ray and Naomi’s love for horses and ponies has carried on into the Moellers’ children.  Son Kent manages horse shows including the UPHA National Championship at the prestigious American Royal.

In addition to showing ponies with Naomi, Ray enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting and musical events.  When their health began to decline, the couple moved to Ridgeview Towers and later transferred to Belle Terrace.  Mr. Moeller is survived by two daughters and a son as well as several grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, March 3 with interment at St. Paul’s UCC (Osage) Cemetery, rural Cook.

Memorials may be sent to the St. Paul’s UCC Church.  Online condolences may be left @www.wherrymortuary.com.

Noted Hackney Pony trainer Larry Bacon has been hospitalized and is in critical condition according to recent posts by Barbara Bacon on a social networking site.  Per those posts, Bacon has been under a doctor’s care recently, but his current condition appears to have been unexpected.  The Saddle Horse Report Online has posted that it has received similar reports as well.  That site notes that Bacon is in St. Joseph’s hospital in Lexington, KY.

Bacon is a long-time and highly successful exhibitor of many champion society ponies.  He has also been a noted judge at such high profile shows as the Illinois State Fair, the American Shetland Pony Congress and the Ohio State Fair.

Gary Schneider, 70, of Pekin, IL, passed away January 27, 2012.  Gary was the husband of ASPC/AMHR Director of Operations Zona Schneider.  He was buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Ill, on January 31 following a graveside service with full military rites.

Although an antique tractor enthusiast himself, Gary will be remembered in the equine world for serving as ringman at the ASPC shows in Peoria.  A full obituary is available on the Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home website.

Kim (Fronek) Dees, 56, Thorn Creek Stables, of Hilbert, WI, passed away January 26, 2012, following a courageous fight against cancer.  She was at home and was surrounded by her family at the time of her death.

Kim, born July 11,1955, in East Chicago, IN, was the daughter of Charles and Katheryn (Jansen) Fronek.

In 1975 she married Jon Dees. Together, the couple had two daughters. Cara Dees is a graduate student at Vanderbilt, while daughter Rachel Dees now works in Milwaukee following college.

Kim received her B.S. in Management from Purdue University and was a Certified Management Accountant.  She started her career as a financial and tax analyst in northern Illinois and then later worked with her husband to start a veterinary practice in Hilbert, WI.    Kim oversaw the financial aspects of this business until her death.  

Thanks to her grandfather Bernard Jansen, Kim was introduced to ponies early in her life and quickly grew to love them.   Jon and Kim have been involved with ponies together since 1969.

Eula B. Hudson, 89 (1922 - 2012), of Jacksonville, IL, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.  The Hudson family is a group of long-time society pony enthusiasts with the pony pursuits stretching back well more than 50 years. 

Mrs. Hudson was born Sept. 17, 1922, in Jacksonville. She was the daughter of George T. and Rose Agnes Taylor Megginson.  On October 1, 1946, Eula married Wm. R. Hudson in Jacksonville, and he preceded her in death May 22, 1984.

Mrs. Hudson is survived by one son, Dr. Wm. J. (wife, Jan) Hudson of Jacksonville; one daughter, Vicki (husband, John) Millik of Jacksonville; two grandchildren, Wm. T. "Tim" Hudson of Oxford, Ohio, and Scott Justin (wife, Emily) Hudson of Jacksonville; and one great-grandson, Jack Phillip Hudson.

Mrs. Hudson and her husband owned and operated Hudson Dairy in Jacksonville, IL, for many years. She worked as secretary at the dairy and managed the office while her husband made the daily deliveries.

The Hudsons owned J-Ville Pony farm and showed Shetland and Hackney ponies.  Each summer the Hudson family traveled throughout the Midwest to compete at society horse shows.   Mrs. Hudson was the coordinator of all the show-related activities for each family member, making sure each person completed his or her role.  Despite overseeing that operation, Mrs. Hudson still found time to be a primary exhibitor for the farm.  The Hudsons’ J-Ville Pony Farm was home to many noted show champions. The family also raised several well-known winners under the J-Ville prefix including J-Ville Playboy and J-Ville Cherry Boy. Even today, some in the younger generations of the Hudson family work with ponies, and the family had a winner at the Illinois State Fair just last summer. 

Mrs. Hudson had a full and active life beyond the dairy and the family’s pony hobby.  She was a longtime member of the following: the Central Christian Church, the Order of Eastern Star and the former Delta Nu Chapter of Delta Theta Tau. The Hudsons were members of the Jacksonville Country Club where Eula enjoyed playing golf with her husband until his passing and then later socializing with friends.

Mrs. Hudson’s funeral was held at Williamson Funeral Home, with burial at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Central Christian Church or the International Association of Firefighters Local 637. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.

Royal Red Viking passed peacefully on January 18, 2012, at Oneka Shetlands in Nerstrand, MN, at the age of 32.  Viking was one of the primary herd sires for Royal Pony Farm of Story City, Iowa, and had been on loan to Oneka Shetlands since 2002.  During his breeding career he sired more than 100 ASPC registered foals including noted show ponies Royal Gray Lad (HOF), Royal Frosted Surprise (HOF), Lee-Land Look, Lee-Land Dot Com, Oneka's Deja Blue and Tickle My Fancy EGF (HOF).  For many years A pair of maximum white sabino sons of Royal Red Viking pulled Oklahoma State University's "Sooner Schooner."  Though he produced sons who would go on to become noted herd sires themselves, Viking was best known to other breeders as a producer of exceptional broodmares. His daughters, who are rarely offered for sale, are highly sought after and uncountable grandget have graced the ASPC show ring in all four of the ASPC's Shetland divisions.  Royal Red Viking himself was never shown as a young pony.  Instead he made his first show ring appearance in Waterloo, Iowa, in 2010 at the age of 30.  As part of his 30th birthday celebration, he was shown at the Midwest Classic Shetland Breeders Association's annual show where he thrilled his many admirers by winning his first blue ribbons.

Barbara O. Fitzpatrick, 75, of Herscher, IL, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

Barbara was born April 5, 1936, in Columbus, OH, a daughter of Jack and Nora Gostrey O’Donnell.  She married Charles Fitzpatrick on September 13, 1978, in Joliet and he survives.

Rev. Wayne Williams, 82, of Clinton, Missouri, died Saturday evening, December 31, 2011.

Mr. Williams was born November 21, 1929, on his family’s farm near Coal, MO.  He was the son of Clarence Loren Williams and Esther Lois (Parks) Williams. He married Betty Jean Rinard on June 3, 1951, and she survives of the home.

Rev. Williams graduated from Coal High School in 1947 and later from Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary in 1967. He was a minister from 1964 to 1984 and served many Southern Baptist churches in Missouri and the Western part of the United States. From 1984 until his death, Rev. Williams and his wife served as missionaries all over the world, working on every continent except Antarctica.  As part of their missionary work, the Williamses helped start churches and worked with hunger relief.

Before becoming a minister, Wayne served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. During his service, Mr. Williams earned both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

In addition to his ministry and mission work, Wayne led an interesting and varied life that included oil painting, breeding and training bird dogs and breeding American Shetland Ponies.  His work with the ponies is especially noteworthy to Shetland enthusiasts. Williams helped preserve the old and historically significant Fred Wilmot herd.  Wilmot’s herd was all-white and used to be showcased at events like the Perry Carlisle sales in Oklahoma.  Williams helped keep this particular Shetland breeding focus from being completely lost well after Wilmot’s passing.

In addition to his wife, Rev. Williams is survived by two sons, Michael Wayne Williams and his wife Anna; Jeffrey Owen Williams and his wife Tammie; two daughters, Marilyn Jean Smith and her husband Kent and Kathryn Ann Lange and her husband John; 10 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; a brother, Don Williams and his wife Judy; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton.  Rev. Roger House officiated. The family suggests contributions to Wayne's ongoing mission work--building churches and hunger relief for orphans and refugees. Contributions to this important work may be made payable to Betty Williams and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.

Delbert I. Taapken, 86, of Petersburg, IL, passed away Sunday, December 25, 201,1 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. He was born September 28, 1925 in Chandlerville, the son of Henry and Stella (Bell) Taapken. Delbert married Alice L. Ingham on September 2, 1960, in Springfield. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Ronnie (Fran) and Ernie (Krista) Taapken; sisters Roberta Curry and Ethel Jones; and two grandchildren Allyson and Peyton Taapken. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and eight sisters.

Delbert was a WWII Veteran. He was a life-long farmer and also worked for the Illinois State Lottery. He and his family enjoyed showing Hackney, Shetland and Welsh ponies throughout the Midwest.  The Taapkens and Ingham families had a long history of supporting the Illinois State Fair society horse show.  The Taapkens also enjoyed showing at Madison Square Gardens in New York City and Syracuse, NY, in the past.  Mr. Taapken was a member of the Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association, Illinois Horse and Pony Breeders and Exhibitors Association and the American Shetland Pony Club.   One of the last shows Delbert attended was the Central States Pony Association show last summer in central Illinois.

Funeral Service were Friday, December 30, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg, with the Rev. Dan Roseberry officiated. Burial was in Steenberger Cemetery, Mt. Pulaski.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John's Hospice. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.hurleyfh.com for Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg.