MARY ANNE GRIMMELL In the late 1960s, both Mary Anne and John Grimmell became involved in the administrative side of the horse business. The governing organizations were not as involved as they are today, she explained, with the result that many people showing horses did not know or understand the rules. Both she and her husband felt it was important that regulations be clarified and enforced. In 1969, she obtained her credential as a steward, and in 1974, added her judge’s card. That was unintentional, she later related; she had signed up for the Judges Seminar simply to learn more—but not allowed to audit, she was required to participate and to take the examination at its conclusion. She and Phil Hatfield attained the highest scores in the group, and her judging career was launched. In 1979, Dr. John Grimmell was elected president of IAHA, and for the following year, Mary Anne Grimmell observed the time-consuming and comprehensive nature of the job. When she was subsequently elected her region’s director, she knew what she was getting into. Despite 12 years of experience as a director and on the Executive Committee, however, she encountered opposition when she had progressed to the first vice presidency, the last step before becoming president. In 1995, when the nominating committee did not put her on the slate, constituents nominated her from the floor and she was elected. She succeeded to the presidency when President Jon Oostermeyer died in office, and in 1996, was elected to another term in her own right. As president of IAHA, Grimmell was known for her willingness to take on difficult issues with a calm, forthright honesty, and a style that focused on solutions, rather than placing blame. One of the concerns she addressed was the treatment of horses, then as now a controversial topic. “Somebody has to be looking after the horse itself, and I think that’s our responsibility,” she commented in a 1997 AHT article. “I know that people who own and show these horses have been very concerned about the welfare of the animals. I think International has to stand very firmly up front saying that we want these horses to be shown in a dignified way. We want them to be show horses, but we want to be proud of the way they’re shown, and of our stewardship of the horses.” While she was genuinely modest about her accomplishments, Grimmell was aware that being effective in the position of IAHA president took the self-esteem to know that she could get the job done.
“At the point that I am now, if you change anything, you wouldn’t be who you are,” she observed in the AHT article. “You know that you made dumb mistakes, but so did everyone else.” And as for the mistakes, she added, “You accept them. Everybody that’s important to you accepts you for what you are.” “MAG (as we affectionately called her) was absolutely the finest person I have ever known and I feel so honored to have had such a close friendship,” says Grimmell’s friend, California breeder Lorry Wagner, who served with her at AHA. “Her integrity, honesty and dedication to the Arabian horse were of the highest caliber. She and I shared so much during our years of friendship, including traveling around the world together in support of the Arabian horse. I will miss her terribly for the rest of my life, as will many of her friends, including the Arabian horse breed.” During the 1990s, Grimmell also expanded the international aspect of her Arabian involvement. Invited to judge Argentina’s National Championships, she also toured the farms and met horsemen, and as a guest of WAHO, she traveled to the Middle East. In later life, Grimmell was honored for her service to the horse industry. The USEF named her to its Roll of Distinguished Officials in 2006, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Arabian Horse Association Judges Hall of Fame. In 2009, she was elected to the Pinto Horse Association Judges Hall of Fame. In the Inshallah.org article, her response to the honors was typical: “What a humbling series of events,” she wrote. Outside the horse industry, Grimmell was celebrated as well. She had volunteered as a nurse for years in school districts, and she served with the Rivers Of Hope, a domestic abuse advocacy agency in Elk River. In 2002, she received the Kathryn Young Richards Distinguished Service Award. Mary Anne Grimmell died on November 30 in Minneapolis. She is survived by one sister, Dorothy Brodnax; four children, Jeffrey Cantrell of Cave Creek, Ariz.; Gregory Grimmell of Cottage Grove, Minn.; Derek Grimmell of Clinton, Iowa; and Laura Jackson of Elk River, Minn.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to Derek Grimmell, Ph.D., 1523 South Bluff Blvd., Clinton, IA 52732. ■ DECEMBER 2010 | 163