John Brian Summerow |
| Posted 2009-01-06 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, December 30, 2008 John Brian Summerow, a native of Prescott, Ariz., was born on July 9, 1928, and passed away on Dec. 21, 2008. His home was in Canutillo, Texas. He was the son of Hoke Summerow Sr. and Stella Mae Maples. John grew up on his aunt and uncle's 44Bar ranch (Sam and Geneva Rosser) north of Prescott. Prescott was a small town and an ideal place to grow up. He attended Miller Valley School and Prescott Junior High. John and his older brother Hoke went to work at a young age to help support their widowed mother and siblings. It was during the Depression and World II and times weren't easy. Horses were the family's only transportation until Hoke was old enough to drive. At the age of 13 John was riding in matched horse races at the old Yavapai County Fairgrounds. Matched horse racing with side betting was a popular sport in Prescott in the early '40s. At 14 John went to work for Charlie Brown riding a lot of his young horses. That started his long career as a jockey and horseman. John went to school for a short time while riding in California. He also rode in Omaha, Neb., and the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix. Then, toward the end of the WWII, horse racing was shut down for a short time. It was around that time John and his brother Hoke went to work for John Thompson at the Las Vegas Ranch in Prescott. Mr. Thompson had some cement stalls built at the old Yavapai fairgrounds. They would bring the horses in from the ranch, train them at the fairgrounds and get ready to race them at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. John rode in some of the first pari-mutual betting races at the old Yavapai fairgrounds, later named Prescott Downs. He had to give up racing for a short time when he was drafted into the Army and served during the Korean War. Soon after his discharge he married Emma Butenscheon on Dec. 6, 1952. He had met Emma a few years earlier in Raton, N.M. They worked many years together in the horse racing business and bringing up their children in New Mexico and Texas. John rode at most of the race tracks in Arizona and New Mexico, including Turf Paradise in Phoenix, La Mesa Park in Raton, N.M., New Mexico State Fair at Albuquerque, Rillito Park at Tucson and Sunland Park in New Mexico. He spent years riding at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He was leading rider at many of the tracks and belonged to the Jockey's Guild. He always enjoyed coming home, visiting family and riding a few futurity races in his hometown of Prescott. John retired as a valet at Ruidoso Downs working the horses and the jock's room. While he was there he got a small part in the movie "Casey's Shadow." He, his wife and three children enjoyed working the summers at Ruidoso. In his retirement years John especially enjoyed his granddaughter, Tommye. He loved watching her ride her horse Jeno. They both were proud when she won many trophies, buckles and saddle. John was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Emma; his father Hoke Summerow Sr.; his mother Stella Mae Summerow-Tucker of Prescott; his sister Ruth Paine of Prescott; and his brother Hoke Summerow Jr. of Chino Valley, Ariz. John is survived by his sons, Ronnie and his wife Laura and Danny and his wife Nan Summerow of Canutillo, Texas; daughter Barbara (Sis) Mitchell; and granddaughter Tommye Jean Mitchell of Ruidoso, N.M.; his brothers, Bill Summerow of Scio, Ore., and Paul Tucker of Kingman, Ariz.; and his sister Nonna Lira of Chino Valley. John was a loving husband, father, son and brother who always thought of others first. His passing will leave a big hole in our lives, but he will live forever be in our hearts. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A private memorial will take place later in Canutillo, Texas. Information provided by survivors. |
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