Stanley Edwards – November 23, 1923 – February 16, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Editor's Note: Ohio horseman Stanley Edwards passed away in his sleep Feb. 16, 2006. He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria Edwards. The following biography of Edwards was written by his close friend, Lonnie Lavery.
Stanley Edwards was much more than just another man that trained horses. In a career that spanned nearly 70 years, Mr. Edwards spent a lifetime with great horses and great people. He first came to Ohio after training Thoroughbred horses and working at the original Kalarama Farm in Kentucky.
In the late 40s he was asked to come to Ohio by the most famous black horseman of that time in this area, Marion Chennalt. Shortly after he arrived, Marion suggested he work for Laverys’ Inc. at Co-Moor Farms in Strongsville, Ohio. There, he worked with Jay Kennedy, Ray Kennedy, George Brown, Tommy Lavery, “Walk Trot” Thomas, Joe Johnson, RT Lavery, and Dick Lavery. (Arguably, the greatest group of horsemen ever in one barn) Stanley made the move with Laverys’ Inc. to a 100-stall facility in Northfield Ohio. While there, we had 75 head in tail sets, housed and worked Cyrus Eaton's Troika hitch of White Slavanski trotting horses, a gift from the Russian president.
And not nearly as important, he taught a very young Lonnie Lavery to ride on a trick pony from the Ringling's Circus that R.E. had traded the Hannaford family for a white “rosin”-backed horse. Stanley quickly taught the pony that his two best tricks should not be “lie” down and “rear up.”
When R.E. was given the opportunity to enter “industry” he left Stanley in charge of these many and varied animals and would meet Stanley at the shows on weekends where they would always be prepared and ready to win. When Laverys' Inc closed in the mid 50s, Stan opened his own place in Ghent, Ohio. Here, on his own, he developed and showed and sold many champion horses. Danish Commander was, perhaps, the most thrilling Wing Commander son that ever lived, on a given night. When you showed against him on that night, you might as well forget it.
Helen Crabtree paid a record price for a beautiful black mare that Stanley had developed. The Kurzes of Honey Baked Ham, the Communale family, the Shecks, the Thranes, the Nortons, the Hearndons, the Rices are but a few of the hundreds of names aligned with Stanley's in this area. But his expertise did not stop with Saddlebreds, when someone needed a tough Arabian trained, Stanley could train it and win.
When A J Andreoli wanted to get into the business with an inexpensive Morgan, Stanley found Fleetwing. And with AJ riding, they made a deep mark in every show ring in the “Parade” division, and Fleetwing has become immortal as the foundation breeding of the “new” Morgan.
No matter how famous or successful these other associations, aligning with Gloria was perhaps his most productive. The Stanley Edwards Stable on Bear Swamp Road has produced more world's and champion horses than one can count with every “show” breed accounted for. SES, has always been and will always be a strong contender at any horse show.
Gloria, we will all miss him, the “white” gloves, the “rawhide” saddle, the legs of iron and the perfect equitation form. Hell, I am even thinking fondly of Pittstown! Our love and our prayers are with you....
--Lonnie Lavery
From Trot.org “Gone But Not Forgotten” forum.
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