by Jeff Zidek

Washington, PA — The United States Trotting Association’s District 7 recently honored two individuals at their annual meeting for heroic actions that saved the life of a fellow horsemen.

Tommy Loughry, second trainer for the Rocky Top Stable, and John “Muck” McMullen, second trainer for the John McMullen Jr. Stable, were presented stopwatches by USTA Director Boots Dunn. The simple inscription on the back said “Thanks.”

On September 10, 2011, trainer/driver Bill Daugherty Jr. had just won back-to-back races at Amulet Farms in Belle Vernon, Pa., during their PA Fair Sire Stake meet. Just minutes after returning to the barn area, Daugherty collapsed.

Loughry and McMullen are credited with saving Daugherty’s life by performing CPR until paramedics arrived.

Daugherty was life-flighted from Amulet to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he later underwent heart surgery. He has made a strong recovery and is now back training horses at his Mercer County farm.