Jack Cornelius passed away on February 11, 2006 at the
age of 41 after losing his battle with diabetes and heart disease.
Jack was living in Nashville at the time of his death. He is survived
by his daughter LeAnn, brother Russ Thompson of Chino Hills, Calif.,
2 sisters, Janice Walpole of Nashville and Judy Davids of California
and a nephew James Thompson of Devore, Calif. Jack worked along-side
his brother Russ for many years and always remained his greatest
supporter. Jack had an uncanny ability to remember horses. He could
recite the lineage of most any horse at the drop of a hat. He knew
and loved all aspects of the Tennessee Walking Horse, but what he
truly enjoyed was leading colts and working with the mares and foals.
He worked with Jo Corrigan to help her develop a very successful
breeding program with her stallion Shaker’s Reward and successfully
showed many of Reward’s young show prospects. He also worked for Joni
Child in Phoenix, Ariz., preparing her show horses for competition.
But, Jack’s roots always remained in the state he loved, Tennessee,
where he eventually operated a small colt program on his own, before
being forced to quit due to on-going health problems.
Jack was a constant supporter of the Tennessee Walking
Horse and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.