Jerry Linaweaver of Leavenworth, Kansas, a former NCHA director, and a member for 40 years, passed away July 14.

Linaweaver traced his involvement in cutting to a local show he attended in the early 1970s.

“A lady there explained it to me and we’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.

Linaweaver’s cutting rose to a new level in the 1990s when he began “collecting” horses by San Jo Lena out of Miss Johnie Sug. He won the NCHA Western Nationals Non-Pro championship on Sanjo Sneaker.

He qualified for the NCHA World Finals in 2001. That same year, he won both the Open and Non-Pro championships at the Oklahoma Select Breeders Futurity, riding San Joes Gaybar Tari.

He shared the secret of his success by saying, “Concentrate. The point is, it’s just between you and your horse. Don’t try to impress anyone. Go in there and get him shown.”

Jerry Linaweaver is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty, and sons Jerry Jr., Mark and Blaine.

Visitation will be July 22 6-8 pm, with the funeral 10 am wed July 23. RL Leintz Funeral Home, 4701 10th Ave., Leavenworth, Kansas.