Betty Jane Henry

BETTY JANE FERGUSON HENRY Betty Jane Henry, 70-year old participant in nation Horse Show, Established National Hemophilia Foundation; Dead at 93. WELLINGTON, FL- Betty Jane Ferguson Henry, a rider, judge, and director of the National Horse Show for nearly 70 years, died here in her home in Wellington, Florida, on Sunday, September 5, 2010, only eleven months after performing in a showcase of her latest avocation, ballroom dancing. She was 93, Mrs. Henry was active in charities with her late husband, attorney Robert Lee Henry. They founded the National Hemophilia Foundation in an attempt to find a cure for the son, Lee, who suffered from the disease until his death at age 21 in 1963. The Henrys also founded Hemophilia Research, Inc. to support such efforts as developing clotting factors that today enable hemophiliacs to live near normal lives. The Henrys helped establish the United States Equestrian Team to fill the vacuum left by the demise of the international military jumping teams when the horse show closed for several years during World War II. Born July 31, 1917, Mrs. Henry began riding pony jumpers at age 13, under the tutelage of refugee Cossacks, Prince Gagarin and his aide, Captain Galitza. As a teenager, she was a successful exhibitor in three-gaited saddle horse classes. She was showing in the National within four years and judging equitation and saddle horses by age 19. Mrs. Henry became a licensed Senior American Horse Shows Association judge of equitation and saddle horses judging in the East, Mid-west and the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden. In 1996, she was honored at the National Horse Show as a 'Living Legend'. She went on to serve the National for at least 10 more years earning her the sobriquet of 'Grand Dame'. Her brother, Fred, survives her as well as her niece, Mrs. Lisa Uchrin of Lebanon, NJ, her nephew, Dr. Robert erguson of Paxton, MA, and a grand niece and two grand nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Hemophilia Foundation, 116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001, or the National Horse Show Association, PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548. A memorial service in Wellington is planned with the internment in the family plot in Cold Springs Harbor, NY.