Albert Paxton, 93, who played a major role in the spread of cutting in Northern Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta region, passed away June 8. Paxton, who was inducted into the NCHA Members Hall of Fame in 2002, established Paxton Quarter Horses in Tallulah, Louisiana after serving in World War II.

He was the first president of the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association and a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association.

In 1956 Paxton and a few others brought cutting to the area with a $500-added show in Vicksburg, Mississippi. That led to the establishment of the North East Louisiana Cutting Horse Association in 1961.

In 1957, Paxton bought Poco Poco, an own son of King that was an NCHA money earner and a grand champion at halter. Poco Poco sired NCHA World Champion King Skeet.

One of the most famous horses he bred was Docs Otoetta, winner of the 1981 NCHA Derby with Bill Riddle. In 1982, she set a record for the most money ever won by a cutting horse in a single year with $92,390. She also won the NCHA Open Classic and placed second in the Non-Pro Classic that year, ridden by John Paxton.