At the Annual Meeting of Certificate Holders, it was announced that Dr. Dean McKinney has decided to step down from his role as MFH of Tryon Hounds. Dean has served Tryon Hounds for 16 years as Master and many more before that as president, officer, director, field master, trail clearer and jack of all trades. We will miss his leadership and years of experience, but don’t count him out. He will still work with THs as whipper-in, occasional field master, trail clearer and jack of all trades - and we will still have the pleasure of watching him gallop across the countryside!

Thank you Dean for your many years of great service to Tryon Hounds!

Additionally, we said thank you to Karen Graham for her 3 years of service on the Board, and we welcomed Piper Close and Jon Napper to the board for new 3 year terms!

At the Board meeting immediately following the Annual Meeting, the Board unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Jim Ritchie as the newest MFH of Tryon Hounds. Jim has been a member of Tryon Hounds since 2019, was awarded colors and came on the board in 2020, and served as Vice President in 2021 and 2022. He and his Cleveland Bay, Statesman, ride in first flight (which Jim has led from time to time.) He grew up showing hunters in Virginia and rode with the Greenville Hounds prior to joining Tryon Hounds. Please join us in congratulating Jim on this honor!

The Board looks forward to working with Masters Bonnie Lingerfelt, Nelson Minnick and Jim Ritchie for the 2023-2024 season and beyond.