Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - April 8, 2003 - The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will induct American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame member Walter Merrick into its prestigious Hall of Great Westerners on April 12. Merrick will be inducted along with the late Captain G.W. Arrington and Russell Don "Red" Steagall.

Merrick of Sayre, Oklahoma, will be inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners along with the late Captain G. W. Arrington of Canadian, Texas and Russell Don "Red" Steagall of Azle, Texas.

Born into a western Oklahoma farming family in 1911, Merrick began his working career in the mid-1920s as an open range cowboy and rough-string rider. From racing to rodeo, from halter to cutting, his influence on the American Quarter Horse industry has become a part of the lore and legend that is the American West.

As a racehorse owner, Merrick's horses have earned more than $1.5 million. As a breeder, he can claim earnings of some $6 million. But, behind the numbers is a man who got his start as a teenager working on a ranch in Colorado, where he would break spoiled horses of their bad habits. In 1928 he headed home to Oklahoma, with a vow to someday have "good horses."

He signed on with the Figure Two Ranch as a broncbuster, and promptly fell in love with a young girl hoeing cotton. Not long after Tien Shinn turned 15, the 19-year-old cowboy made her his bride. The owner of the Figure Two presented his Depression-era workers with cattle from time to time to make up for low wages, and when Merrick had a herd of 14, he branded them with that number. It has served as his mark ever since.

Merrick parlayed his 14 Ranch into an operation, which ultimately
spanned four states and included thousands of cattle and, true to his
promise, only the best horses.

In 1936, he purchased Midnight Jr, and when the American Quarter Horse Association was established, the horse received number 210 in the registry. With this horse, Merrick's racing interests grew, and he began looking for top Thoroughbred blood to cross with Midnight Jr mares.

In 1951, he convinced Sid Vail of Tucson, Arizona, that the Thoroughbred Three Bars should travel to Oklahoma where Merrick could fill his breeding book. Other great horses, which have stood at Merrick's ranch include Tonto Bars Hank, Grey Badger II and Jet Smooth. Another profitable pairing crossed Jet Deck and Lena's Bar to give Merrick one of his best racing prospects, Easy Jet. An equine member of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, Easy Jet propelled the Merrick reputation to the top of the breeding heap.

Easy Jet's lifetime record stands at 27 firsts, seven seconds and two thirds from 38 starts, and in 1969, his two-year-old year, he was accorded AQHA's highest racing honor, the World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse title.

Above raising good horses was his desire to raise a good family, and he has always been prompt to note Jim, Donna, Joe and Sherry Lynn have made him an extremely proud father, not to mention the fact that they inherited his love of horses and racing.

His hometown, the state of Oklahoma and AQHA all have honored Merrick for his many accomplishments. When Easy Jet won the All American Futurity in 1969, Sayre proclaimed "Walter Merrick Day" to mark the occasion, while Oklahoma State University named Merrick the 1979 Outstanding Oklahoma Horse Breeder. Two years later, he was the first horseman to be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. That same year, AQHA named him an Honorary Vice President to mark his service to the Association. He had become a Director in 1952. Merrick served on the Show & Contest and Racing Committees.

The late Captain George Washington (Cap) Arrington was born December 23, 1844, in Greensboro, Alabama, and died March 31, 1923, in Hemphill County, Texas. His life spanned two of the most tempestuous times of this nation's history ~ the War Between the States and the passing of the Western frontier. He lived an adventurous life as soldier, spy, Texas Ranger, Texas sheriff and rancher.

Red Steagall is a sterling example of a life spent preserving and interpreting the cowboy traditions. He grew up in Texas, and while learning the skill and cow savvy of the men who worked the range, as well as their songs, he began to carve out a career in entertainment that has spanned the globe from the Middle East to South America, the Far East, Germany, Spain and Australia.

Always promoting Western heritage and the cowboy way of life, Steagall produces a Cowboy Gathering each year in Fort Worth, Texas. In April of 1991, the Texas Legislature named Steagall as the official Cowboy Poet of Texas. He is also the official Cowboy Poet Laureate of the City of San Juan Capistrano, California. He has performed at functions attended by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Selected by the Museum's board of directors, Merrick, Arrington and Steagall will be honored during the 42nd annual Western Heritage Awards ceremonies, held in the Museum's Sam Noble Special Events Center.

The men and women honored within the Hall of Great Westerners, the Museum's highest honor, represent the heart and spirit of America's Western heritage. Explorers, Native American leaders, writers, poets, statesmen and others who have revered the land, cherished freedom of individuality, inspired their fellow man and found the strength of character to overcome tremendous adversity, find a home within this unique and enduring national memorial.

For more information on Western Heritage Awards and additional press releases on inductees, celebrity awards presenters and honorees, visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.