Former NCHA President and life-long cutting horse enthusiast Jimmie Randals passed away February 16 in Amarillo, Texas. Born in Snyder, Texas, Randals served as a combat infantry rifleman, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
Randals got started in the horse business when he bought Poco Dell, by Poco Bueno, from Paul Waggoner at a sale in 1952 with the plan of setting up a small breeding operation. He showed the horse at halter, and then at cutting to become an AQHA Champion. But Poco Dell’s success as a sire gathered momentum and Randals began taking outside mares and expanding his operation.
He topped the 1979 NCHA Futurity Sale with a then-record price of $150,000 for Doctor Montoya, by Doc Bar out of Miss Impressive, by Two Eyed Jack.
His first broodmare, Quo Vadis, was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.
He sometimes turned to race-bred horses to supply his ranch at Montoya, New Mexico and cutting horse programs, most notably with Smooth Herman a Jet Smooth son whose offspring include $300,000 earner Work Smooth.
Randals served as NCHA President in 1973-75. He was also a director of the AQHA, former President of the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association, and the New Mexico QHA’s Man of the Year in 1972.
He is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 61 years, his daughter Jina Randals (Jerry) and Richard Randals (Linda), plus grandchildren Anna Randals, Misty and John Vick and great grandson Cameron Hendrix, and one sister, Marianne Randals, and other relatives.
Services will be held February 23 at the Presbyterian Church in Tucumcari, NM at 10:30.
The family recommends that donations be made to Helping Hands Hospice (624 S 2nd St Tucumcari, NMÂ 88401) or to a charity of your choice. For more information, please contact Dunn Funeral Home in Tucumcari. (505) 461-3815.