2018 National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Induction Award Recipients
Breyer Horse designer Kathleen Moody receives the Mary Jane Colter Award &
Mongol Derby horse racer Brooke Wharton receives the Mitzi Lucas Riley Award
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (Oct. 9, 2018) The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will recognize two special award winners at the annual National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon and Ceremony this year. Kathleen Moody, designer at Breyer Horse Models, is the recipient of the Mary Jane Colter Award. Brooke Wharton, breeding program manager and equestrian endurance racer of the Mongol Derby, is the recipient of the Mitzi Lucas Riley Award.
The Mary Jane Colter Award is named in honor of a 2009 Cowgirl Honoree and distinguishes those women who create, design, build and interpret the traditions of the American West.
National Cowgirl Museum Executive Director Patricia Riley said the museum pays tribute to the pioneer designer Mary Jane Colter by presenting an award in her name to a woman who has influenced the world through her Breyer Horse designs.
“We cannot think of a more deserving 2018 Mary Jane Colter Award recipient than Kathleen Moody,” said Patricia Riley. “Through her life’s work creating artistically innovative and beautifully painted resin horses for Breyer and others, she has given girls and collectors around the world a lifetime of joy through these pieces of art that become treasured friends.”
Stephanie Macejko, vice president of marketing for Breyer Horses Reeves International, Inc., said during Kathleen Moody’s time at Breyer, she has brought to life all of the aspects of the horse.
“For over 25 years, Kathleen Moody has been capturing the beauty, power and spirit of the animal we’re so enthralled with: the horse,” said Macejko. “Her expressive, joyful sculptures have engaged and inspired horse lovers of all ages.”
The Mitzi Lucas Riley Award is named in honor of a 1996 Cowgirl Honoree and recognizes young adults who promote Western heritage in the community through education and volunteerism.
Brooke Wharton, 2018 Mitzi Lucas Riley Award recipient, joins a renowned group of horsewomen who have previously received this honor.
“I am incredibly honored to be chosen to receive any award that I would share with women as passionate and active as Adelaide Royer, Mary Margaret Richter, Missy Bonds, Amberley Snyder and Amy Doris Bell,” said Wharton. “The Mitzi Lucas Riley Award is especially humbling. She is an inspirational woman and a great ambassador of the cowgirl spirit; I hope to continue to follow in her footsteps.”
Patricia Riley said this award shines light on the modern day cowgirl and how Western heritage is still a value to strive for in this day and age.
“Brooke Wharton is so fitting as this year’s Mitzi Lucas Riley Award recipient as a sixth generation member of the W.T. Waggoner family, breeding manager and equestrian endurance racer of the Mongol Derby which is known as the world’s longest horse race,” said Riley. “She tied for sixth, making her the first American, and she tied as the first woman to cross the finish line that year.”
Please join us in celebrating these two special award recipients and five Cowgirl Inductees at the National Cowgirl Muse-um and Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon and Ceremony on Nov. 1 at the Will Rogers Memorial Complex Roundup Inn in Fort Worth, TX. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please contact Emmy Lou Prescott at emmylou@cowgirl.net or 817-509-8965.
About the Mary Jane Colter Award
This award was named for 2009 Honoree Mary Jane Colter, and it distinguishes those women who create, design, build and interpret the traditions of the American West. She was one of the few female architects of her era. Colter has 11 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, five of which have been designated National Historic Landmarks. Past Mary Jane Colter Award recipients include Jan Barboglio and Double D Ranch.
About the Mitzi Lucas Riley Award
Established in honor of 1996 Hall of Fame Honoree Mitzi Lucas Riley, this award recognizes young adults who promote Western heritage in the community through education and volunteerism and encourages involvement in preserving the Western culture and legacy. Mitzi Lucas Riley has said the saddle was her playpen as a baby. Born into rodeo royalty, Mitzi made her professional trick riding debut at age 6 and performed in rodeos across the country. She served on the board of the Rodeo Historical Society, establishing the Tad Lucas Award to recognize outstanding women in rodeo. Mitzi has held fast to a life-long dedication to the Western heritage and to promoting cowgirls.
About the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience and independence that helped shape the American West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire. Established in 1975, the Museum is considered an invaluable national educational resource for its exhibits, research library, rare photograph collection and award-winning distance-learning programs for grades K-12 and adults. The Hall of Fame’s purpose is to preserve history, foster an appreciation for their ideals and spirit of self-reliance.
For more news and information about the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, visit www.cowgirl.net and follow on Face-book at www.facebook.com/NCMHOF, Twitter at www.twitter.com/cowgirlmuseum, Instagram at www.instagram.com/cowgirlmuseum, Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/cowgirlmuseum and YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/cowgirlmuseum.
Located at 1720 Gendy Street Fort Worth, Texas 76107, the Cowgirl hours and admission have adjusted during second floor renovations for the Kit Moncrief Galleries and It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition until spring 2019. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discounted admission is $5 for adults (ages 13+) and senior citizens (60+), $3.50 for children (ages 3 to 12) and children 3 and under get in free with paid adult. For more information, please visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817-336-4475.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Madison Ward
817.509.8969
mward@cowgirl.net
www.cowgirl.net