LIFE & TIMES
Maryland Will Miss... Gary L. Humphreys
of Delmar died on
March 17 at the age of 68. Humphreys gradu- ated from Delmar High School in 1972 and was named Delmar’s Citizen of the Year in 2016. He was a farmer who was part of the Maryland Farm Bureau as well as a bus driver and contractor for Wicomico County Schools. Humphreys was also an honorary member of the Delmar Fire Department where he served as an engineer, ladder foreman and hose fore- man. He was also a past vice-president of the Department and served on various committees. Humphreys grew up in the horse racing com-
munity where he would attend live racing and watch simulcast racing. Later in life he owned harness horses and won the 2013 and 2014 Maryland Sire Stakes and Maryland Standard- bred Race Fund Championships. His most suc- cessful horse was Spinout, who was undefeated as a two- and three-year-old in the Maryland Stakes Program. Humphreys was a member of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, where he also served as director for two years. He was also a member of the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners’ Association, the U.S. Trotters Association and Delaware Standardbred Owners’ Association.
Liza Stude, formerly of Cecil County, died
on March 20 at the age of 66. She was a long- time steeplechase groom and exercise rider. Stude was born in Wilmington, Delaware but grew up in Cecil County. She graduated from Elkton High School in 1974 and was an active participant in both 4-H and U.S. Pony Club. While in high school, she got her fi rst job in
the racing industry as a groom for Hall of Fame trainer Burley Cocks. She also worked for the Clancys, Dr. John Fisher, the Valentines, Pattie Miller and Jeff Seder. Stude spent most winters in Camden, SC and her summers in Saratoga working for Cocks. Outside of racehorses, Stude had a passion
for racing motorcycles and cars. She attended the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Florida
where she was reportedly the fi rst female grad- uate. In the late 1990s, she attended the Bertill Roos Racing School in New Jersey to become certifi ed to drive in car road racing events. She also had her own motorcycle shop in Chesa- peake City during the early 1990s. Stude moved to West Virginia after retiring
from racing and married Gerald Laird, who passed away in 2022.
Carol Jean Swartz of Derwood died on
March 27 at the age of 78. Born in North Carolina, Swartz graduated from Montgom- ery Blair High School in 1962. She married H. Ray Swartz the following year and spent the following years raising their sons, helping with the family business and pursuing her passion of horses. Swartz competed in dressage and was a past
president of the Potomac Valley Dressage As- sociation. She was also very involved with the running of Redland Hunt Pony Club. She was an instructor, a mentor and friend to many in the horse community.
Laura Johnson of Wil-
lowbend Farm, died from ovarian cancer on April 16. She was 56 and lived in Upper Marlboro.
Johnson
learned to ride at ClayHill Stables with Emmy Pretty- man in 1978 when she was 11 years old. She learned at a young age the importance of proper horse management and daily care. Locally she showed in rated hunter and equitation classes. Johnson moved with her family to Willow- bend during high school and started showing one of her best horses, the Arabian stallion Gwydson who she showed on the Arab Show Circuit and qualifi ed for Nationals three years in a row. She placed in the Top Ten all over the East Coast with Gwydson showing in both
Laura Johnson Comings & Goings
Former Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager Sal Sinatra has been hired to advise the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) for the next six months.
of Marylanders
hunter and western pleasure divisions. As an instructor, Johnson was a Certifi ed Horsemanship Association Master Instructor and Clinician. She directed several CHA clin- ics starting in 2000. Her teaching career started at Willowbend in 1984. Johnson once said, “My goals have always been that my students go away from each les- son having learned something, challenged but no over faces, and wanting more. Riding needs to be fun. Goals need to be set but may not always be ascertained by the end of each les- son. If something is not working, try something else, end successfully and on a good note. Little successes are just as important as great ones.” Johnson coached riders of all ages at lo-
cal shows as well as on the NCEL, IEA and NCAEL circuits. She always took pride in her students winning sportsmanship awards with those leagues. Johnson believed being a teacher and coach was not just about developing strong riders but also confi dent and kind humans. In addition to teaching and coaching, John- son was a full time farrier for the past 10 years. As a farrier, she most enjoyed working with quirky horses, ponies and older horses who needed a kind touch.
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www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | MAY 2023 | 47
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