Charlotte Dampier was born March 7, 1942 and died March 21,1985. She was  the first woman to win the MFTHBA World Grand Championship and did so not only once, but twice. Charlotte was the daughter of Charles and Rose Everett. She grew up riding horses. After she  married L.D. Dampier in 1960 she continued with her pastime of raising, training, and riding her horses. Charlotte trained her horses in the fields and country roads and used her horses for working cattle. She enjoyed showing horses, also, and was well thought of by her constituents.  Those who knew her say that she always had a smile on her face and a kind word for others. Billy Johnson recalled how she encouraged him when he won the WGC in 1981 on Yankee's Whispering Hope, Virginia Day, spoke of the support and kindness she was shown by Charlotte Dampier who insisted that she wear her white good luck blazer when Virginia's mare Miss BG qualified for the championship one year. The late L.E. Atkisson (trainer) tells of how she was truly admired and loved by those who knew her and spoke highly of her ability to train and ride horses.

Charlotte Dampier rode, Yankee's Mona Lisa, one of the first of the long reaching, naturally big licked fox trotters this breed had seen to the World Grand Champion title in 1973.   She had won the 2 year old Ladies Championship in 1971, the 3 year old mare class and the 3 year old Championship in 1972,  the 4 year old Mare class and the WGC in 1973. winning 3 consecutive championship titles (2year old Championship, 3year old Championship, and 4 year old Championship.)  Those who witnessed her World Grand Championship ride in 1973  say that it was one of the most exciting of classes they have ever seen.  There was no doubt who was the winner of the class and the crowd cheered with each lap! Everyone wanted a Yankee horse after that and those that didn't have one scrambled to find a way to get that lick.  In 1975 Charlotte won the Ladies 3 year old Championship on Mr. Jack,  and in 1983 won the Senior Mare Championship and the World Grand Champion title  on Yankee's Sweet Charity giving Charlotte Dampier a total of 2 World Grand Championship titles.

Charlotte died of a brain aneurism with the coming of spring in 1985, on March 21st, at the age of 43. She had complained of a headache all day. However, it did not stop her from enjoying on that day what she loved most...riding a Missouri Fox Trotting  horse.  Those who attended the funeral say that there was not a dry eye in the place. One who attended the funeral said that she was buried in her white blazer. A memorial to her was placed on the wall where the parking lot begins in front of the MFTHBA office and Hall of Fame building. The memorial at first glance appeared to be  an inscribed  tribute to her and what appears to be a round piece of metal attached to the brick wall. However, underneath that metal plate is a picture of Charlotte Dampier.

Charlotte Dampier was the first woman to win the WGC and was loved by all, she was the first person and first woman to have a memorial to her placed on the MFTHBA grounds. She was inducted into the MFTHBA Hall of Fame on September 7, 2002. She will remain a symbol of achievement, good sportsmanship, and genuine kindness and support for others in competition. She will also remain an inspiration to women who would strive to achieve the goal of winning the MFTHBA World Grand Championship.

© 2000-2002 Charlotte Blackwell for the Missouri Foxtrotter News. All rights reserved.

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