Longtime Moultrie resident William H. Fisch, CPA, was recently honored with the prestigious Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award by the American Quarter Horse Association at its 2014 Racing Championships Awards Ceremony in Oklahoma City, Okla.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Longtime Moultrie resident William H. Fisch, CPA, was recently honored with the prestigious Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) at its 2014 Racing Championships Awards Ceremony in Oklahoma City.

Fisch was cited for his role in bringing the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, Inc., (FQHRA) from a vision in 2005 to a reality in 2009, according to a press release. He is credited with maintaining a financial system that assures that racing purses, which exceed $5 million per meet, are protected and properly distributed. Since 2007, Fisch has also been a director and treasurer of the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders & Owners Assoc., Inc.

“FQHRA and quarter horse racing in Florida would probably not exist without the work of Will Fisch,” said a representative of AQHA. “He is a major reason quarter horse racing in Florida continues to thrive and is set to grow in spite of the many obstacles it has had to overcome.”

AQHA’s Chris Kotulak, who served as emcee for the event, said, “Will is a real straight shooter. We like that.”

Fisch’s son, Stephen D. Fisch, DVM, FQHRA president and owner of AVS Equine Medical & Surgical Hospital, PA , received the Crone award in 2010. According to AQHA, this was the first time a father and son have each received that recognition.

Will Fisch is married to the former Betty Jean Green of Hartsfield. Their children, Steve, Lauren, and Lee Ann were born and raised in Moultrie. All of them now live in Tallahassee, Fla.

AQHA is the world’s largest equine registry and membership organization. There are more than 2.5 million quarter horses registered in the US and 845,000 owners.