Past President J.W. Tyner
personified dedication and perseverance

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—The Paint Horse community lost a true friend with the passing of J. W. Tyner of Tyler, Texas, on March 27. He was 88 years of age.

At the age of 86, J. W. Tyner competed in Amateur cutting competition at the World Championship Paint Horse Show in Fort Worth, Texas. It was the same class in which he was a world champion 20 years earlier. Hirez JPEG (3.87 mb)

Tyner will always be remembered as a champion and was an inspiration to countless people throughout his life. He encouraged those around him to be proactive in life and was a leader by example.

“Always look ahead, because life’s in front of you,” Tyner said in a recent APHA interview.

One of Tyner’s favorite quotes was from New York Yankee legend Yogi Berra, who once said, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Tyner would clarify the statement by adding the words, “In other words, do something.”

Tyner never hit a roadblock he couldn’t find a way around, and he never let his age get in the way of ambitious plans.

Tyner dropped out of high school to support his family. After serving in World War II, he worked for the Veterans Administration in Waco, Texas, and began taking night classes at Midwestern University.

Tyner went on to attend Baylor University, where he simultaneously earned two degrees—a BBA major in Accounting and a Doctors of Jurisprudence. In 1959, he opened his own private practice in Tyler, and quickly became a respected force in the legal community. He was admired for his innovative and creative approach to law, and his cases have been used as examples in lectures at his alma mater.

Tyner got his first horse—which he accepted as payment for legal services—in 1965. Two years later, he bought his first American Paint Horse and began competing in Western pleasure classes. He later started training his own horses.

Poco Flicker, a sorrel tobiano stallion, was one of Tyner’s greatest mounts, and was the American Paint Horse Association’s first working cow horse champion. The stallion was also a three-time grand champion and sired outstanding horses that helped advance the Paint Horse breed. In all, Tyner trained four APHA champions.

In 1980, at age 62, Tyner served as APHA’s president. Four year later, he earned APHA Amateur Cutting National Champion honors.

Tyner made APHA history again in 2004, when at age 86 he rode FBD Badger to became the most senior member to compete in the World Championship Paint Horse Show in Fort Worth, Texas. While he did not win the cutting event in which he entered, Tyner said he still came out feeling like a champion.

“I had to come back and do it,” said Tyner following the competition. “I had to do it for cancer survivors and all the old cutters.”

Tyner’s survivors include his wife of 43 years, Hallye Tyner of Tyler; daughters Zoe Tyner, and Mitzie Parks and husband Robert all of Tyler; seven grandchildren including Andrew Myers, Elizabeth Kerr and Leslie Parks; and several nieces and nephews.

J. W. Tyner is a legend in the American Paint Horse Association. Hirez JPEG (1.27 mb)

Services set for March 30

Services for J. W. Tyner will take place in Tyler and are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, in the Green Acres Baptist Church chapel with Dr. David O. Dykes officiating. Burial will follow at the Rose Hill cemetery.

Family will receive friends at Burks-Walker-Tippit Funeral Home, 215 East Front Street, on Wednesday, March 29,  from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Boulevard, Tyler, Texas 75701, or charity of your choice.

To send a sympathy message, visit the Burks-Walker-Tippit Funeral Directors Web site at burkswalkertippit.com/obituaries.