APHA State Director Wendell Cummings Passes

PHJ release by: APHA.com

APHA is saddened by the death of Wendell Cummings of Sedalia, Colorado, on December 15.

An APHA member since 1998 and longtime advocate for the Paint Horse, Wendell served as an APHA state director for many years. He was an active member of the General Show & Contest and World Show Advisory Committees from 2018-2021 and served on the Cattle Event Task Force that began in 2020.

Wendell and his wife, Peggy, founded Paynter’s Paint Ranch in 1988. Their operation has proudly featured Paint Horses carrying the lineage of Color Me Smart through their ranch stallion Diablos Painted Doc. They dedicated themselves to breeding, raising and showing Paints in APHA, NRHA, NRCHA, and NCHA events.

The couple possessed a giving spirit towards the association, particularly with the American Paint Horse Foundation. The family has arranged for a memorial brick honoring Wendell to be placed near the American Paint Horse Association’s office on Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Contributions toward this memorial can be mailed to the American Paint Horse Foundation (501c3), c/o Billy Smith, P.O. Box 960123, Fort Worth, TX 76161. Please indicate your contribution is in honor of Wendell Cummings. If you choose to honor Wendell with a full brick purchase, that may be done online at https://apha.com/foundation/capital-campaign/give-a-gift-form/.

Wendell will be missed by his APHA family, and we thank him for his contributions to the breed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peggy and all of his friends and family.