FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 1996

Lowry appoints members to new Horse Park Authority, Personnel Resources Board

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Mike Lowry today named the first five members of the board of the newly created Washington State Horse Park Authority.

The 1995 Legislature established the authority to develop, promote, operate, manage and maintain a state horse park facility to offer public recreational opportunities. The park would host large regional horse shows, national championships and events to showcase and promote the state's horse industry.

The governor appoints the seven-member board, each member serving terms of up to three years. Members represent the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the county in which the park will be located (as yet undetermined) and the geographic and horse sporting interests in the state.

The first five members of the board are:

Gerry Adams of Bainbridge Island. Adams, a certified public accountant, raises and shows quarter horses from a farm on Bainbridge Island. Adams is an active member of the Seattle Rotary, the Rainier Club and the Washington Athletic Club, and serves as treasurer of the Wingpoint Golf and Country Club on Bainbridge Island and on several boards.

Shirley Coffey of Seattle. Coffey is active in the hunter-jumper industry.

Loyal McMillan of Bellevue. McMillan has been active in the Arab horse industry and serves on the Arab Horse Trust Foundation. She also is active in the llama industry.

Don Morin of Auburn. Morin owns a 165-stall race horse training facility that offers instruction in showmanship, and has 40 years of experience in the construction business.

Gail VanDemoere of Issaquah. VanDemoere recently retired from her management position at Washington Natural Gas and purchased Fantasy Glass Trophies. She serves as vice president of the Equestrian Institute and is a regional representative to the U.S. Dressage Federation.

The governor also appointed Linda Lanham of Seattle to the state Personnel Resources Board to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Cindy Zehnder.

Lanham currently serves as the political director for the Machinists' Union District Lodge 751. She also has worked with the Washington Machinists Council, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington State Job Training Coordinating Council and the Labor Roundtable.

The board governs the state merit system for state agency personnel.

For more information, contact the Governor's Communications Office at 360-753-6790.