SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The 2012 Celebration will mark the final horse show for current Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC) CEO Dr. Doyle Meadows.  Meadows informed the board of the TWHNC at their annual planning meeting earlier this week and recently informed the members of the TWHNC Association.

A portion of the correspondence Meadows sent to the Association included the following:

“As most of you were aware when I became CEO of the Celebration, being the “old-timer” that I am,  my years  of service would be limited.  Therefore, in an effort for the Board of Directors to adequately plan an exit strategy, I will leave as CEO of The Celebration at the end of the working day, October 31, 2012.   As you can tell by the date of this I will be here through the 2012 Celebration.  I look forward to an outstanding year and Celebration. I am most grateful of the lasting friendships that will not end when I leave the Celebration.”

Meadows was hired in February 2008 and has overseen a very difficult time in the Celebration’s history; a time marked by a downturn in the economy, the removal of the largest Horse Industry Organization (HIO), the National Horse Show Commission (NHSC) and the formation and funding of the S.H.O.W. HIO which took the place of the NHSC.

“It has been a great honor for me to be the CEO of The Celebration.  I truly appreciate all those people that have helped me as we continue to have the world’s greatest horse show in Bedford County.  I have a tremendous amount of pride for The Celebration and what it means to the Walking Horse industry and our community,” said Meadows.

The 74th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, held in August 2012 will mark the fifth Celebration that Meadows will serve as CEO and show manager.