David Howard officially retired from the Celebration Board at the January 26th meeting of the Celebration Association. Scott Johnson, son of former Board member Virgil Johnson, was elected to serve in the role vacated by Howard. Howard joined the Celebration Association in 1987 and was elected to the Celebration Board in 1997. During that time, he was dedicated to promoting the Celebration and the Tennessee Walking Horse.
“David is one of the most dedicated people to our industry that I have had the pleasure to work with for the past 25 years. He has been a great influence on me personally and professionally and he will be truly missed on our board. I am very blessed to call him my friend,” said Connie Allen, Director of Office Operations for the Celebration.
David Howard has served as Chairman of the Board for two separate terms, most recently this last year of his service. Pat Marsh was elected to the role of Chairman of the Board for the coming year.
“We are really going to miss David’s knowledge and expertise of the Walking Horse industry as well as his business sense. He has put in countless hours of free work and done it with a big heart to help the horse, trainers and owners. He has done it for the right reasons and I respect him greatly for that,” said Marsh.
“In my 25 years of involvement with The Celebration no one that I have dealt with has given more time or more effort to The Celebration than David. He will be missed by all of us and I appreciate his service and his friendship. In addition to his service, David is the longest standing corporate sponsor of The Celebration and his company’s generosity has meant a great deal to The Celebration,” said board member John T. Bobo.
Fellow board member, Charles McDonald, commented, “The Celebration, and more particularly, The Celebration Board of Directors, has lost a huge resource and dedicated member with the retirement of David. His insight and knowledge of the Walking Horse industry has been invaluable. His dedication and commitment to The Celebration, and what I've grown to see and appreciate, his love and sincerity for the betterment of the breed, is far more than most people realize.
Howard is the owner and president of Dabora, Inc. which publishes the Walking Horse Report. Although Howard turned over the majority of the management of Dabora, Inc. to his children Christy Womack and Jeffrey Howard, he keeps an active link to the industry through Walking Horse Report.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve on the Board with some outstanding and committed community leaders. The Celebration is more than a horse show and its leadership is critical to the future of the breed. Without the broad based support from horsemen all over the country the Celebration would not be the championship this horse deserves. I certainly appreciate the support I have received,” said Howard.