In Memory Of

S.H.O.E   Life Time member Ben Pierce passed away on October 14th 2009. Ben was owner of  Pierce  Farrier Supply,  and with his wife Ann of 54 years they ran the supply company. Ben was born  November 8th 1932 in Wilkes County NC. In 1949 Ben enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a Tail Gunner on a B-29 with the 5th A.F. S.A.C. group. He flew 50 missions in the Korean War. After the war he went to work with Lowes  and meet his future wife Ann as she would cut through the Lowes parking lot going to lunch from her job with the telephone company next door . They would have three children . Ben and Ann moved to Detroit Mich. in the late 50s, so Ben could try his hand in Professional Boxing. Although Ben won a lot more than he lost it didn’t take him but a few years to figure out that he did not want to be a pro boxer.   In 1961 Ben and Ann ended up in Nashville Tenn. From 1961 to 1970, during those years Ben work with Lowes then open up his own building supply company. Also during these years he drove in NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division now know as the Nationwide Series. He raced all over the south and won his share of races, mostly at the old Nashville Fairground track. There are a lot of pictures of Ben trading paint with Bobby and Donnie Allison, Red Farmer, and a very young Darrell Waltrip.  Ben and Ann moved back to North Caroline in 1973 to be near his father that was very ill. In 1973 Ben went to work with Georgia Pacific as their top salesman. In 1987 Ben open Pierce Farrier Supply Co. and with Ann’s help it grew from a small 8X10 out building to a good size warehouse

In 1990 Ben saw that the local farriers need a local contest, to test their skill with one another. Ben put up all the money for the very first Born to Forge Contest and put it on. This past year was the 20th year, and Ben paid all the bills to put this on, all 20 years

Ben also give all the start up money for a young S.H.O.E to get started. When local farriers need help putting on any kind of clinic, they could always count on Ben, he was always there. Ben was also a Founding member at the start of the Guild of Professional Farriers, also a Life Time member of the BWFA . In 1992 Ben work hard with a group of SHOE farriers to help put on the very first BWFA Convention in Asheville NC. The BWFA  give Ben the BWFA Convention Host Award  for all of his hard work.

Ben did so much for so many just because the need was there. Ben will be missed

Ben was my father. His passing was a huge blow to me and my family. His support that he gave me in everything that I did will be missed so much. He never missed a football game that I played, and made most of my Rodeos even if the bull or bronc I was riding only lasted a few seconds. Without his help and support telling me to keep going, that I could do it, I would have not got as far as I have. Thanks Dad we will not forget all that you did.

Thanks Marcus J. Pierce

Reggie was raised on a West Texas horse farm. He attended the North Texas Farrier School in 1966. He moved to Oklahoma in 1972 and opened the Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School in 1975. Reggie joined the BWFA as a Master Educator School in 1990 when the BWFA was the talk of the farrier industry. It was controversial to be a member and begin a new school owner organization. But, the brave and bold did it. These owners designed the BWFA certification testing. They ventured out to attend our annual conventions. The most fun we had was in Texarkana in 1993 when we started the Student Farrier Contest. This is one of prized possessions and the memories that go along with it. Reggie was inducted into the BWFA Hall of Fame in 1994. Things were good back then, the farrier industry was thriving as well as our country. When I first met Reggie we talked about the hardships on the economy and something he said has stuck with me and I have quoted him time and time again to new farriers. “When the economy gets tough, the farrier industry stays strong.” Meaning, that selfemployment is on the rise. The school owners met again in 2005, in Oklahoma City to discuss the future of the farrier industry and had a great reunion. The last time I saw Reggie was at the 2007 BWFA Convention here in Georgia with other school owners together for the student farrier contest. I am thankful now that all of these men could meet together with such respect. Reggie was a man of faith who witnessed by giving his personalized Bibles to everyone he met. We will all miss Reggie.

Ralph and Ginger Casey

The Farrier

His nights are long and cold,

He gets up with a groan.

His bones are tired, broken from the mold.

The coffee hot and black

He looks at his planner to figure his day

His office, a horse on wheels, requires no meals.

The secretary, a cold voice mail

while he hammers yet another nail.

You need him in a pinch cause

Ol' Daubers stuck in the fence.

"Mr. Farrier help Ol' Dauber is broke"

"No, this is not a joke, I need him by yesterday"

"I'm miles away you are going to have to pay"

Like a superhero he saves the day.

Ol' Dauber walks away feeling well,

You bid him a farewell.

With your pocketbook dented

and his pocketbook padded, you smile and say, "Hope he is around to save me another day"

Well old man, job well done, your day is over,

Go home and rest y'er weary bones.

Matthew McDonald, Son

We remember Bill as the true Texan, liv­ing in Colorado, with something to say. His articles as the "Phantom Farrier" were humerous, serious and sometimes offensive. He was genuinely concerned about helping new farriers get started out on the right foot, and stressed "good shoeing" all the time. Bill joined the BWFA in 1990. The last time we talked was just before the 2008 Convention which he was not able to attend. His father had recently passed away. He did send us a quote for the bulletin . . .

It's easy to drift with the current swift

just lie in your boat and dream.

But in natures plan it takes a real man

to paddle a boat upstream.

and RC, that's what you are doing.