LEWISBURG, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) is pleased to announce that Ron Thomas has accepted the position of Executive Director. The decision to hire Thomas was a unanimous one by the current TWHBEA Executive Committee. President Marty Irby related, “We are very pleased that Mr. Thomas accepted this position and thank him for his willingness to serve our great breed. I feel we have a bright and fruitful future ahead of us.”
 
A longtime advocate for the walking horse industry, Thomas was the Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration® from 1984 until 2007. During his tenure, The Celebration® saw unparalleled growth in entries and attendance. Thomas was the first to create a sponsorship program for the event and between 1984 and 2007, that program raised over $16 million in revenue.
 
Plans call for Thomas to visit TWHBEA headquarters on Tuesday, February 15, to meet with staff. He will officially begin his duties as Executive Director on March 1, 2011. “It’s an honor to be asked to serve, I look forward to working with the Executive Committee to accomplish their goals and objectives. I’m anxious to work with other industry leaders to continue to promote this great breed,” says Thomas.
 
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA), headquartered in Lewisburg, Tennessee, is the oldest and most prestigious organization devoted to the promotion of the breed. Founded in 1935, the breed registry was established to record the pedigrees of the Tennessee Walking Horse. Its goal is to maintain the purity of the breed, to promote greater awareness of the Tennessee Walking Horse and its qualities, to encourage expansion of the breed, and to help assure its general welfare.