Phil Terry, general manager and director of marketing for the Delaware, Ohio County Fair, has been elected as the 26th Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame honouree

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In 1968, as a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, Terry helped direct traffic at the Delaware Fairgrounds. Now, 42 years later, he was selected as the 2010 Wall of Fame honouree by a panel of national and international harness racing enthusiasts.

Terry will be officially inducted and presented a commemorative gold ring at the Mayor’s Breakfast to be held at the Hospitality Pavilion at the Fairgrounds on the morning of September 22, the date of the Jugette Pace. The breakfast will get underway at 7 a.m.

“I am extremelly honoured to be associated with the past Wall of Fame honourees,” said Terry. “When I look at the accomplishments of those past winners, I am humbled to think that I should be considered with them. I am a lucky guy to be involved with the Little Brown Jug. It has opened many doors.”

Following graduation from Ohio Wesleyan University, Terry worked with the Delaware city police department and “one of my duties was working with the press. Whenever the Fair was involved I met with Tommy Thomson, president of the Little Brown Jug Society and Director of Racing for the Delaware Fair. Tommy was editor and publisher of the Delaware Gazette.”

In 1984, Terry was named chief of security for the Fair. “I began working closely with Tommy and our friendship grew.”

Later, Terry was named Director of Marketing and in 2008 the Fair’s board of directors unanimously elected him as the general manager of the Delaware County Fair and the Little Brown Jug.

Among Terry’s major accomplishments have been the financing and construction of the Lavern Hill Jugette Barn, the Hospitality Pavilion and the Tack Shack. Terry also created and oversees simulcasting, the Future Jug Pool and the Little Brown Jug Fantasy Stable Contest.

“Butts in seats” is Terry’s favourite expression. “Good attendance adds to the excitement and helps finance the fair and racing. We need people to attend the fair and buy admission tickets. It is very important to allow, and encourage, people to walk through the backstretch and get up close to the horses and trainers. We allow fans throughout the barn area, especially on Jugette and Jug mornings.”

Terry, who also received a President’s Award in 2008 from the U.S. Trotting Association for decades of exemplary service to harness racing, married Katie McNamara in 1975. He helped his father-in-law, Harold McNamara, with his stable of horses that raced under the Sea-Mac-Farm banner. Katie, who volunteers in the marketing and public relations department at the Fair, was the 2006 Lady Pace honouree.

Tickets to the Mayor’s Breakfast are available for $30 each by phoning (800) 335-3247 or by writing The Mayor’s Breakfast, PO Box 1278, Delaware, OH 43015.

Past Wall of Fame Honourees

2009 - Joe Thomson
2008 - Dr. J. Glen Brown
2007 - Jules Siegel
2006 - Ron Waples
2005 - Laverne Hill
2004 - Howard Beissinger
2003 - William O’Donnell
2002 - Thomas Walsh, Jr.
2001 - Michel Lachance
2000 - Roger Huston
1999 - Charles Armstrong
1998 - George Segal
1997 - Charlie Bowen
1996 - John Campbell
1995 - Tom Thomson
1994 - Corwin Nixon
1993 - Gov. James Rhodes
1992 - Gene Riegle
1991 - Stanley Bergstein
1990 - John Hayes, Sr.
1989 - Stanley Dancer
1988 - John Simpson,Sr.
1987 - Delvin Miller
1986 - William Haughton
1985 - Henry Thomson

(Little Brown Jug)