At the National Reining Horse Association’s most recent Board of Directors meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Hall of Fame Committee recommended to the Board of Directors several nominees for consideration for induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame and consideration for the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. The board voted to induct Terry Thompson, Miss Tinseltown and Smart Spook into the NRHA Hall of Fame. Kenny Eppers and Bob Stinner will each receive the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. These highly coveted honors will be celebrated at the NRHA Annual Awards Banquet on June 20, 2015, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

NRHA Hall of Fame Inductees

Terry Thompson
Terry Thompson, Aubrey, Texas, first earned an NRHA paycheck in 1977. He was the 1982 and 1985 NRHA Open Derby Champion and a perennial finalist in NRHA Derby, NRHA Futurity, and other major events. Thompson has also figured prominently in winning many regional futurities and derbies. Thompson has served on various NRHA committees and the NRHA Board of Directors. He has been a generous contributor in youth fundraising. Thompson is an NRHA Judge and was instrumental in helping develop the current judging system.

In addition to NRHA competition, Terry has actively participated in Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) events helping to promote the sport of Reining, especially the Appaloosa reining horse.

Miss Tinseltown
Miss Tinseltown is a 1994 mare by Great Red Pine and out of Ms Holywood Showtime. Her NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) total $114,087. Miss Tinseltown is owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner David Silva, Sr., Pilot Point, Texas.

Miss Tinseltown was bred by Charles R. Vaughan and had a phenomenal show career, earning more than $114,000. The highlights of her show career include 1997 The Tradition Futurity Champion, 1997 NRHA Futurity fourth place, 1998 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Reserve Champion, 1998 NRBC Champion, and 1999 NRHA Derby Reserve Champion.

In the breeding shed she has produced earners of $682,540. She is currently ranked #2 on the NRHA All-Time Leading Dams’ list (Based on offspring earnings). Her highest earning offspring include Gunners Tinseltown (Gunner) LTE $265,383, Hollywoodstinseltown (Hollywood Dun It) LTE $185,885, Hollywood Downtown (Hollywood Dun It) LTE $111,094, and Dun It In Tinseltown (Hollywood Dun It) LTE $62,378.

Smart Spook
Smart Spook is NRHA’s Highest Money-Earning Stallion with NRHA LTE $403,149. Smart Spook is by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena and out of Sugarplum Spook. His owner/breeder is NRHA Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg. In the show pen he was a dynamo. His achievements include 2004 NRHA Futurity Champion, 2005 NRHA Derby Champion, 2005 AQHA Junior Reining World Champion, and 2007, 2008, 2009 FEI World Reining Masters Gold Medalist, winning an unprecedented six Gold Medals.

In the breeding shed, Smart Spook is an NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire ($2,669,363). His highest money-earning offspring include Custom Spook NRHA LTE $196,332.93, Red Stripe Spook, NRHA LTE $178,345.31, Shine N Spook NRHA LTE $151,430.46, and Spook Off Sparks NRHA LTE $142,339.23.

NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Kenny Eppers
NRHA Professional Ken Eppers or Krum, Texas, has been a mentor to many young trainers and non pros including Justin Zimmerman, Matt Zimmerman, Adam Donahue, Jason Donahue, Jerry Moncada, Richie Greenberg, Mike Simmons, Jr. & Sr., Frankie Vasquez, Monte Strusiner, Valerie Kearns, Sarah Johnson, Jordan Larson, Nancy Eppers, Matt Wilson, Matt Armenta. He has a thriving training business and is a successful clinician and non pro coach as well.

In the show pen, Eppers has enjoyed much success, having trained and shown such standouts as Lil Peppys Sugar Bar, Smart Little Jewel, Smart Sugar Doc, Smart Like Juice, Skeets Peppy and Catomic. He is a perennial major-event finalist with NRHA LTE of $262,411.

Bob Stinner
Bob Stinner of Aubrey, Texas, has been a supporter of NRHA for 35 years. He served on the NRHA Board of Directors from 1987-1994. Over the years, Stinner has been an NRHA Judge, served on various committees and was active and instrumental in the success of the Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association and the Florida Reining Horse Association. He has helped produce, sponsor and manage NRHA shows. Stinner has been a large supporter of the sport of Reining and NRHA; lending support to the careers of several trainers along the way, including Bill Horn, Sam Smith, Tom McCutcheon, Ruben Vandorp and Shawn Flarida. In addition, he helped ensure the success of NRHA’s early horse sales.

Please join us in June at the NRHA Awards Banquet to honor these well-deserving individuals. For more information on the NRHA, NRHA Hall of Fame, and NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award go to nrha.com or rhsf.com.

The Hall of Fame is one of the Reining Horse Sport Foundation’s five core programs. The Reining Horse Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and enhancing the sport of Reining worldwide through its five core programs; Youth, Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, Hall of Fame, Research & Education and International Development. For more information visit rhsf.com.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard-setting body for the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs and family of corporate partners, visit nrha.com.