Tom Stovall (Comanche, Texas)
In the early ‘80s, I beat Al Gore to the punch and "discovered" the internet (known then as ARPANET). In those days, it was a difficult platform to navigate, and it took some work to figure things out, so I patted myself on the back for being the first farrier on the web. I found a discussion group for "horses" and immediately began to answer questions related to hoof care. I was the best!
After a couple of days of waxing eloquent and explaining "the way" that things should be done, I crossed the stupid line one too many times, and a crusty old cowboy who was equally impressive as a blacksmith and a wordsmith, appeared from nowhere and thumped me on the head.
Mr. Tom Stovall started schooling me that day and still schools me today. Although my first lesson was in humility, the lessons progressed to gaits and movement, biomechanics, monitoring and adjusting for discipline and environment, forge work and a host of other topics.
Yet, no matter the topic we discussed, there was always a thread of common sense. He might take me down a path littered with eloquent references to Occam's Razor or an Archimedean Point, but he never failed to bring it all back to the fact that I needed to attend to the basics, to look for the obvious, and not over-complicate the obvious once I found it.
I'm a better farrier for having known Mr. Tom. More importantly, I'm a better man for having known Mr. Tom.
— Danvers Child (Lafayette, Ind.)