Carol Harris slowly rose from her chair, walked over to the life-size bronze of her beloved Rugged Lark and kissed his nose before entering the newly renovated American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum for the first time since the facility's doors were closed last year for renovation.
It was one of many touching moments witnessed by the more than 300 AQHA Directors, Hall of Fame members and guests at the museum's grand re-opening Tuesday, June 5, in Amarillo. The re-opening of the museum capped the first-ever, two-day AQHA Directors Summit in the Association's home town.
Tears streamed down Connie Blondin's face after she was escorted through the towering doors of the museum without her late husband, AQHA Past President and Hall of Famer J.D. Blondin, who died in 2006.
"This is really special," Connie said later as she looked around the Grand Hall, where plaques display photos and information on all of the members of the Hall of Fame.
New Jersey Quarter Horse breeder Peggy Cofrancesco said, "There's a spirit in here," after she toured the Hall of Fame exhibits on the museum's second floor.
The museum opens to the public June 9.
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Guests enter the museum | The Dogwood Horse | Entertainer and Quarter Horse breeder Lyle Lovett and Hall of Famer and racehorse trainer Jack Brooks
| The plaques in the Grand Hall |
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AQHA Past President Tio Kleberg (left) and AQHA Executive Director of Registrations and Transfers Gary Griffith
| Amarillo Mayor Debra McCartt and husband Joe Bob McCartt. | Ardys Burt and Connie Blondin | Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews |
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Ken Banks, Laina McNellis and AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer | Pat Fletcher and AQHA Executive Committee member Dick Monahan | AQHA Past President Ken Smith (seated) and AQHA Executive Director of Judges Alex Ross | Guests gather outside the museum for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. |
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