Posted April 22, 2002

The Tennessee Walking Horse World lost a loyal friend on April 12, 2002 when Mr. Howard Withers of Dixon, Missouri passed away. Howard had attained the age of 79 years and had been a devoted horseman all of his life. He was often seen in the show ring in Missouri until the recent past few years. He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Emma, and his daughter and son-in-law, Debby and Glenn Myers, and granddaughter Amanda of Rockwall, Texas, as well as two brothers and three sisters of Dixon, Missouri.

Howard and his daughter Debbie were the owners of the five time World Champion Show Pleasure mare, Triple Trouble, in 1980-1982 and the Ladies Amateur Specialty Reserve World Champion, Smoke Signal in 1983. Some of Howard’s fondest memories were of Shannon Sapp of Columbia, Missouri making a Reserve World Championship ride in the Juvenile Division in 1983 on Smoke Signal, and also making two World Championship rides on Storm Charm in 1990-1991 in the Amateur Owned and Trained Division.

Howard and his daughter Debby currently have horses in training with longtime friends Bill and Ruby Bilbey from Bill Bilbrey Stables Stables of Livingston, Tennessee and with Wade and Margaret Hickman at Joe Fleming Stables in Shelbyville, Tennessee.