Lexington,
KY—After decades of service to the equestrian industry, the United States
Equestrian Federation proudly tips Tiffany’s sterling silver hat to one of
eventing’s stand-out stars, Walter Straus, the recipient of
the 2005 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jimmy A. Williams Trophy. This
unparalleled award is given to the horseman or woman whose “life experience
and accomplishments exemplify uncommon devotion to the sport of competition with
horses and whose equestrian career and horsemanship have continually elevated
the sport’s excellence.” A life-long equestrian since the age of seven,
Mr. Straus fits the bill. “I feel deeply honored,” Straus
shared. “What I am and what I’ve become is because of the  wonderful
examples in my life—my father, and the many teachers and students I’ve
had over the years.”
(Mr. Straus is pictured at the right. Photo courtesy
of the US Eventing Association Archive.) Entering a distinguished circle
of equestrians that has included Lowell Boomer, Frank D. Chapot, John H. Fritz,
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Jack Le Goff, and husband and wife teams
Kenneth and Sallie Wheeler and Ned and Nina Bonnie, Mr. Straus brings years
of service to his lifetime achievement post. Best known as a former Director of
the United States Equestrian Team, Mr. Straus has been an active horseman throughout
his life, training, competing and judging. Straus is a past president of the USCTA,
AHSA Zone VII and the Texas Hunter-Jumper Association, where he also served for
15 years on the Executive Committee. An international Pentathlon judge, Mr. Straus
is also an “R” judge in Jumper, Hunter, Hunter Seat Equitation, Dressage,
and Eventing. In 1984, he officiated the riding phase at the Los Angeles Olympic
Games. Most recently, Straus was honored with a 2001 Pegasus Medal of Honor. The
USEF Lifetime Achievement Award will be formally presented to Walter Straus during
the USEF’s 2006 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza,
January 13, at the Pegasus Awards dinner. For ticket information, log on to www.usef.org.
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For
more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager at (859)
225-6974 or via email at slane@usef.org. USEF press releases are available on
our web site – www.usef.org.
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