Longtime National Reining Horse Association member and former member of the NRHA Board of Directors Tim Lynch of Ardmore, Oklahoma passed away September 17, following an 18-year battle with cancer.
Tim was born in West Bend, Wisconsin on August 6, 1953, and raised in nearby Whitewater, where he was a star football player and wrestler. He attended the University of Minnesota and was a bull rider and rodeo clown, one year making it to the national finals in bullfighting. From rodeo, he turned his attention to horse shows and training horses.
Over the years, he grew his training and showing ultimately moving to Prior Lake, Minnesota. In 1995, Tim moved to Marietta, Oklahoma, and literally found his lifelong home – and Tracy, the love of his life. He became an active member of the First Baptist Church and spent time participating in the Ardmore Little Theater (community theater) where was cast in many local productions. During this time, his career in the horse industry took him to all corners of the United States as well as Mexico, Europe, and Japan where he competed, conducted clinics and judged reining events.
Tim acquired a collection of accolades and buckles until a serious spinal cord injury that turned riding from painful to impossible ultimately ended his training days.
Unfazed, he accepted an opportunity to manage the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and the historic facility flourished under his direction. During his tenure, he became a respected member of the business community of Ardmore and devoted himself to development projects both for the Hardy Murphy Coliseum and the city of Ardmore.
His skill as an equine event center manager caught the attention of the town of Queen Creek, Arizona, and he was offered a position at Horseshoe Park Equestrian Center. He attracted major events to the park and organized many important improvements. His final project of a second covered arena, which he considered his greatest accomplishment at the venue, was completed just days before his retirement.
Upon retirement in 2020, he moved back to southern Oklahoma to reunite with friends and his church family. A self-educated historian, practical joker, and amazing storyteller with an indomitable spirit, Tim lived his life under the cowboy code of ethics. He tackled each day with courage, taking pride in his work, finishing what he started, and loving his family.
Tim’s humor, determination, and bravery have inspired all who have known him for the past 18 years. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Tracy, his daughter Jamey Worley (Kelly) and grandchildren Devon Elizabeth 23, Rhett McRae 20 and Cassidy Jean 12, his sister Nancy Smolich (Steve), brother David Lynch (Gail), brother Andrew Lynch (Ivonne) and sister Mary Mannion (Ciaran) and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on October 15 at the First Baptist Church in Ardmore. Memorial donations may be sent to Tracy Lynch through Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home in Ardmore or can be made in his name to Rein In Cancer at www.reinincaner.com.
The Tim Lynch Memorial Award has been established by the Southwest Reining Horse Association and will begin at the 2021 event in October. The High Scoring Rookie each year will receive a buckle and Lawson trophy in his memory.