On Tuesday, May 28, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) announced the election of James E. Helzer of Arlington, Texas as chairman and Dick Monahan of Walla Walla, Washington as vice chairman to the AQHA Racing Committee. Helzer is also currently serving as the president of the Texas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (THBPA).

Helzer, 62, has served as an AQHA Director since 1992. As an active member of the AQHA Racing Committee for ten years, Helzer has served on the Racing Council as vice chairman from 1994-1997. In addition, he has served on the Rules and Regulations Subcommittee and was chairman of the Graded Stakes Subcommittee. He currently serves on the MBNA Challenge Task Force and was a member of the subcommittee that developed the MBNA Challenge 10 years ago.

Currently a director for the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA), Helzer has served as its president and is a long-standing member of the TQHA Racing Committee. He also has been a director of the Texas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (THBPA), for which he was elected president in January of this year. He also is the president-elect of the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA).

Raised in Colorado, Helzer began racing and training horses in the early 1960s. Following a number of years working in the defense industry, he founded a drywall, roofing and siding business in the late 1970s. He currently serves as CEO of JEH Roofing Supplies in Arlington, Texas, one of the world's largest roofing companies. He owned and campaigned two-time AQHA World Champion Refrigerator, American Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading money earner with more than $2.1 million in earnings.

American Quarter Horses owned by Helzer, as well as with his wife Marilyn and partners, have earned more than $2.7 million. As a breeder, his American Quarter Horses have earned more than $700,000.

Besides a successful roofing company, Helzer devotes much of his time to his racehorses and breeds both American Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at his JEH Stallion Station in Pilot Point, Texas.

He also has campaigned and owned in full or in partnership a number of outstanding Thoroughbred runners including; Wooden Phone, winner of the 2001 Strub Stakes (G1) by defeating 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow and Joe Who, winner of the Eddie Reed Stakes at Del Mar in California.

Monahan, 62, has been an AQHA Director since 1986 and has served on the Racing Committee since 1985. He has served two terms on the AQHA Racing Council from 1997 to 2000.

Helzer will be replacing outgoing Racing Committee chairman and newly appointed AQHA Executive Committee member, Walt Fletcher, who held that position since 2001. Monahan will be replacing Helzer who has been vice chairman since 2001.

The Racing Committee is a 98-member steering committee which recommends policy and develops programs for the marketing of American Quarter Horse racing. Those recommendations are then passed on for approval by a 10-person Racing Council.

Members of the AQHA Racing Committee annually elect the chairman and vice chairman to the Racing Committee by ballot.