Doris Norton and Duke Remington Inducted Into the 2005 Jubilee Hall of Fame
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
With a long history of achievements at the Jubilee, the second annual Jubilee Hall Of Fame inductions were held at the Jubilee Regional in Springfield, Ill. Following Doris Ryan was Doris Norton for this year's outstanding choice as the second person to be inducted into the Jubilee Hall of Fame. Duke Remington, a great ambassador to the breed, who has been seen in nearly every division and costume imaginable over the years at Jubilee became the second equine inductee.
The following speeches were read during the induction ceremonies:
DORIS NORTON
Doris Norton has been in the business of breeding and showing Morgan horses for over fifty years. Her involvement began with the purchase of a Morgan mare named Osogay from Helen Greenwalt. Doris related the $275 purchase price was considered substantial at the time since she and her husband George were raising a family. Actually it was George who steered her to the Morgan breed. One of the first things he told her after their marriage was, "If you're going to be a Norton you have to have a better horse." So it was a trip to Pawnee, IL, and a meeting with the Greenwalts at Highview Farm that put Doris Norton in the Morgan business.
In the late 50s, she met Mrs. William Barton of Big Bend Farms. This culminated a long and enduring friendship. Soon Doris was catch-riding for Big Bend. Some time later Mrs. Barton approached Doris and asked if she would take over the management of the horses. It seemed the farm was not making any money. She told Doris she could keep any profits made. Well, the farm was in the black the first year and enjoyed several years of success until Mrs. Barton's death in the late 1960s. It was then that the original Big Bend Farm in Illinois was sold and the horses moved to the farm in Wisconsin.
Doris recalls attending the Jubilee in 1966. She vividly remembers the silhouette of a three-year-old Morgan stallion standing near the coliseum doorway ready to enter the ring. He was then, and remains, her ideal – in her mind, the perfect Morgan. This, of course, was Applevale Storm King. He was the talk of the show that year as he was named Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Stallion.
When Doris discovered the stallion had come to the show to be sold, she wasted little time with a phone call to husband George saying, "I just have to have him!" His reply was, "Well, it takes money to make money" and that is the story of the introduction of Applevale Storm King to the Big Bend breeding program. During those years Mrs. Barton co-owned him, but eventually Doris bought her interest. Storm King went on to win in Hand, Park Saddle, and Park Harness competition at most of the major shows of that time, including Jubilee, Michigan, North Star, Indiana, Syracuse and Circle J. He was never defeated in Get of Sire classes and left an indelible mark on the Morgans of Big Bend.
Doris Norton has been a director and secretary of the Mid-American Club, as well as a directory and secretary for the Mid States Club. She has also served as a director for the Wisconsin Morgan Club. She has served on the Jubilee board, as well as the breeders committee, youth steering committee, ethics committee, and other AMHA committees.
Doris and George Norton have been married for 52 years. They have two children, Bill Norton and Nikki Rifle, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Although they are both in their 70s, retirement is not for them. Doris remains VP and secretary of the small family corporation, Norton Feedlot Equipment. They have 11 Morgans and stand the Applevale Storm King son Big Bend Infinity. They raise two or three foals a year. Doris still breaks and trains her young stock, although she does admit she sends them out for training for the first 30 days. George is not actively involved in the horse business, but Doris says he has always been very supportive and she could have never done it all without him.
She reminisces, "While all of the competition is memorable, some good and some not so good, one of the most exciting classes was at the Jubilee in the Roadster Under Saddle when trainer Harry Andre rode my mare Shennetta and I rode a customer horse named Big Bend Fair Lady. As I went in the gate Glenna Zaleskas, Fair Lady's owner asked, "are you going to beat your own horse?" My reply was, "I'm sure going to try." Since Harry was the Road horse "guru" I knew I would have to ride hard. Fair Lady literally laid the corners and flew down the straightaway to win the class, with Shennetta in reserve.
"Over the years I have been blessed to have people in my life who have offered opportunities beyond my wildest dreams; Mrs. Greenwalt and Mrs. Barton top the list. Because of these two ladies, I have tried to give back to young people who, like me, have a dream. I hope to have helped some of them achieve that dream."
The Jubilee Regional Morgan Horse Show is pleased to induct Doris Norton into the Jubilee Hall of Fame.
DUKE REMINGTON
Duke Remington. . .What can one say? He was born 31 years ago on the farm owned by John and Linda Howard in Sherman, IL. He spent the first four years of his life growing up with the Howards, before being purchased by Kathy Firch in 1979. Until that time he had been shown limitedly in the Park Harness and Park Saddle divisions, then English Pleasure and Pleasure Driving, as well as some In Hand classes. Kathy and Duke continued in the saddle seat divisions for his first two events in 1979.
In 1980 Kathy introduced her gelding to the western pleasure and hunt seat world, where he adapted quite well. In 1981, Kathy's sister Carolyn Firch and Duke embarked upon their sidesaddle career, showing in costume and sidesaddle classes throughout Illinois. Kathy also added Parade to Duke's list of accomplishments. Duke not only excelled with Kathy and Carolyn, but could also be found in he winner's circle with many junior riders including Kelly Langley, Natalie Balder, Danielle Kemp, Laura Lyons, and Tasha Huff.
Duke's achievements ridden both astride and aside are countless, and too lengthy to list here. Duke was the first Morgan to achieve the Gold Medal in the AMHA Open Competition Show Division, and was awarded a lifetime achievement award from AMHA in 1997.
For the last 25 years Duke has participated in nearly every Jubilee show in one fashion or another, showing in Hunter Hack, Over Fences, Hunter Pleasure, Costume, Parade, Pleasure Driving, English Pleasure, Walk Trot, Road Hack, Equitation (all seats), Trail, Western Pleasure, Classic Pleasure, Dressage, Carriage Driving, Dressage Driving, In Hand, Showmanship, and Leadline. He was the Hunter/Jumper Champion in 1986, 1988-1990, 1993-1994, High Point Horse in 1986-1988, and Carriage Driving Champion in 1997.
A Jubilee without Duke Remington is almost impossible to imagine. But he does have a life outside the show world as a member of the Mississippi Valley Morgan Horse Club's Historical Demonstration group. He is a veteran with more than 20 street parades to his credit. In the off-season, he can be seen on the trails out for a leisurely ride.
Duke Remington embodies the spirit and versatility that is so synonymous with the Morgan Breed. We celebrate the Morgan Horse with the induction of Duke Remington into the Jubilee Regional Morgan Horse Show Hall of Fame.
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