
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 19, 1994                   TAG: 9407190042
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AND THE WHINNYERS ARE ...

When the three horses in Roanoke's mounted patrol head for the barn, there'll be no more ``stalling'' when they go in. Their new names will be placed over their doors.

The winning entries for the Roanoke City Mounted Patrol Unit's horses in the ``Name That Horse'' contest, conducted by the Roanoke Foundation for Downtown Inc. and Downtown Roanoke Inc., were announced Monday by Mayor David Bowers.

Winners received gift certificates from Domino's Pizza, worth a free pizza or sub every two weeks for a year.

The horses will receive hay and shoes.

Proceeds from the contest's entry fees will help defray operating costs for the horses, estimated at $15,000 to $17,000 through next June.

T-shirts bearing the mounted patrol's emblem are now available at Downtown Roanoke Inc.'s office and at special events.

David K. Lisk of Roanoke, chairman of Roanoke Sister Cities' Wonju committee, entered the name "Wonju" for the Tennessee walking horse. Wonju is Roanoke's sister city in Korea.

Peggy Bell's grandsons will benefit the most from her winning entry. ``They'll get most of the pizza,'' she said. Bell, of Salem, is a registered nurse at the Veterans' Administration Hospital in Salem. She thought it only natural to name a pinto gelding ``Cornbread.''

Susan Guard of Elliston, a teacher in Shawsville, submitted the name ``Star'' for the thoroughbred/quarter horse gelding, inspired by her own horse's name, Stardrift.

``We wanted names that related to Roanoke,'' said Pearl Fu, one of the judges. ``Star was the most popular entry, of course. We also had names like `Make My Day' and `Terminator,''' Fu said, ``but we wanted names that would let children know these are gentle horses.''

Judges for the contest were James Sears, president and general manager of Center in the Square; Fu, official Capital of the Blue Ridge ambassador; Martha Mackey, executive director of the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Bob Kulinski, president and chief professional officer of United Way of Roanoke Valley.

by CNB