A candid photo of Virginia Day 
at work as an MFTHBA Director

Virginia Day was the first and, so far, only woman to serve on the MFTHBA Board of Directors. She was the daughter of Johnny and Lucy King of Springfield, Mo., and graduated from Central High highschool at Springfield in 1955. She married Larry Day. Virginia's source of enjoyment was her Missouri Fox Trotting horses and wood carving. She was a master wood carver and was a member of the Ozark Whittlers and Woodcarvers Association, was superintendent of the fine arts department of the Ozark Empire Fair for several years, and belonged to L'Art, an art group, for over 20 years. Virginia was also a member of the Mid America Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association and made the sign for that association.

She was concerned about the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse breed and loved both the horses and the people who owned and raised them. Former MFTHBA president, Tom Owen, said of Virginia, "Ginny was one of the most fair and honest persons that I
have known. For 30 years she was at every horse show she could make promoting the breed, but as much as she liked the breed she cared about the people more."

"She served on the board listening to the concerns of others and representing the members fairly and impartially. She was truly a non-political board and concerned board member wanting always to do the right thing and loosing sleep if she felt the needs of the MFTHBA members and horses were not being fairly represented or met in any way. At horse shows her satisfaction came from the trying and not necessarilythe winning which made her a true winner in every show."

During her time on the BOD Virginia began the work on the Hall of Fame and talked of turning the Hall of Fame room into a true Missouri Foxtrotter Museum.  Her plans included shelves and displays of various items foxtrotter memorabilia, information
about the foundation fox trotters and as well as the annual human inductees. At some time she wanted to focus on the horses as well as the people preserving the history of our breed. She was far sighted in that she saw them importance of the internet to our breed and served as the advisor to the Internet Committee. During her years on the BOD she was always supportive, helpful, and encouraging. She worked with the horses right through the 1998 Celebration. She rode her horse with the other BOD members in
the opening ceremonies and even though she was in poor health at that time, and tired easily, she insisted on lining up the participants to enter the show ring on Friday and Saturday nights because she enjoyed doing it. Several of us offerred to help but
she liked to finish any job she started.

She told a story about the year she had qualified on Miss BG for the final round at the Celebration and how thrilled she had
been; but what had thrilled her most was that Charlotte Dampier told her that she should wear a white blazer on the night of
the finals because Charlotte believed that the white blazer she had worn to her various championships had brought her "good luck."

Virginia had replied that she didn't have a white blazer, but Charlotte wouldn't hear of it and told her that she would fix that. She
got her own whte blazer and insisted that Virginia wear it on the final night that year. Virginia laughed that it didn't bring
her the same "luck" as it did Charlotte but she had felt so honored that Charlotte had wanted her to wear it when she rode
Miss BG on the final night of that Celebration.

Virginia took her directors position very seriously. When bad health from cancer caused Virginia to attempt to submit her resignation the BOD would not hear of accepting it hoping that her health would be returned once again.  Virginia herself was reluctant to submit her resignation feeling guilty that she would be letting the membership down by not completing her term as MFTHBA director.  Even nearing the end her thoughts were toward others rather than herself. She succombed to complications of cancer in her home Monday morning Dec 7, 1998 at the age of 61.

Virginia Day is a role model for all women in the MFTHBA.  She cared about the horses, the people, and stood firm for what she believed in. She never thought of herself as important but just a member trying to do the best job she could do for the breed of horses she loved and the people she loved in that breed. She will remain an inspiration to all women in the MFTHBA.

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©1998 Revised 2000 for the Missouri Foxtrotter News. All rights reserved.