GALATIA - The late Kenneth Jackson had been around horses most of his life.

When he left the U.S. Marine Corps in 1950, he returned to his Galatia ranch and devoted much of his time as a cutting horse trainer.

It was not an endeavor that went unnoticed.

Jackson, who died in 1995, was inducted into the National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame during an annual cutting horse convention in Denver in early June.

He is only the second person from Illinois to receive the honor, and family members were there in Denver when his name was announced.

"You bet we're excited. Training a cutting horse takes a high degree of skill and agility," said Joy Richey, a daughter of Jackson.

Richey said her father was known as a successful exhibitor, mentor and teacher for many people who wanted to compete in cutting horse competitions, which offers lucrative prize money and recognition.

"He was instrumental in the growth of the Illinois Cutting Horse Association, and judged nationally and internationally. He was also a national director for many years, and was part of a small group of individuals who wrote the rules for cutting competition that are still used today," Richey said.

In 1958, Jackson built one of the first indoor riding arenas in the country. Jackson's J-6 Ranch became a gathering place for cutters of all ages and abilities, according to the National Cutting Horse Association.

He helped found the association and served as an officer for 25 years, in addition to being an association area director and working with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Scott Page, president of the Illinois Cutting Horse Association, said Jackson provided critical leadership to the association for more than 40 years.

"Kenneth was never an individual who wanted to seek the limelight. Because of that, he was always willing to share his skills with others and did his best to help them succeed. Cutting was his passion, and he shared that with as many people as he could throughout his life," Page said.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

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