Thomas Wilburn II Passes

Published: July 30, 2015 12:24 pm EDT

Horseman Thomas Luther Wilburn II, 96, passed away on July 27 at Smith Oaks, Lowndes County, Miss.

He was born at Smith Oaks near Artesia, Lowndes County, Miss., on November 30, 1918. The third son of William Russell Saunders Wilburn and Estelle Marie Smith, he lived all his life at Smith Oaks.

Wilburn attended local schools and graduated from Artesia High School. He attended the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and later graduated from Mississippi State University in 1940.

In 1941 he became a pilot in the Army Air Corp and served as a flight instructor during World War II. He returned to farming at Smith Oaks in 1943.

His love of horses and his need to supplement his farm income led him to follow in the footsteps of his great uncle, Elbridge Smith. He began a career as a Standardbred trainer that lasted 40 years. He won more than 2,000 races from California to New York, from Illinois to Florida and trained 1,000 horses during his career. There were few harness horse trainers from the south, and Wilburn was the only trainer with an all African-American crew.

He is a member of the Illinois Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

After returning from racing in 1974, he continued to train horses at Smith Oaks to send to various race tracks.

Wilburn became a successful commercial cattle farmer and was named Mississippi Cattleman of the year in 1991. He was a man of many talents, well known as an artist, storyteller and colourful personality.

He began drawing horses in his early twenties and developed into an accomplished artist. His drawings of horses have been the subject of many exhibits. An excellent book, Tales of Tom Wilburn, was recently written and published by Dr. Jeannine K. Smith. He was also profiled in the June 2010 issue of Hoof Beats.

Wilburn is survived by his sons, Thomas III and David; four grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Charles Smith Wilburn (wife June Riggs), William Russell Saunders Wilburn Jr. (wife Elise Hudson) and Mary Ann Wilburn (husband Hugh Young).

Services will be at Annunciation Catholic Church, Columbus, Miss., on Friday (July 31) at 10 a.m. with Father Robert Dore officiating, followed by graveside services with burial at Smith Oaks near Artesia, Miss. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Annunciation Catholic Church, 823 College St., Columbus, MS 39701 or Annunciation Catholic School, 223 North Browder St., Columbus, MS 39702.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Thomas Wilburn II.

(USTA)

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