Directors and Staff
Mitch McCrea, President
Mitch McCrea is fortunate to be a fifth-generation Texas rancher and second-generation New Mexico rancher and farmer. He is a trial attorney with Baron & Baron, P.C. of Dallas, Texas. Mitch returns to his roots as often as possible to help with the two family ranches between Del Rio and Sonora, Texas and the family ranch and farm outside of Roswell, New Mexico, where his family continues to round up their cattle, sheep and goats on horseback. Mitch earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, a master’s degree in history of the American West from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and a law degree from Texas Tech University, before ultimately settling in Dallas in 2003.
J. Ben Casey, Jr., Secretary
Ben Casey is former President of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation which supports the 5 Presbyterian hospitals and the Presbyterian Village in North Texas. The Foundation funds medical research, patient care, education, facilities & community outreach. He served as President of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas for 15 years. His total career at the YMCA was 35 yrs.
Steve Barnett, Treasurer
Steve Barnett is a retired attorney who devotes his time to various civic and charitable activities. Mr. Barnett has been a long time volunteer and member of the Board of Directors of Equest, a nonprofit organization providing therapeutic horseback riding. He is on the Board of Management and Executive Committee of Camp Grady Spruce Brand of YMCA and on the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Autism Treatment Centers of Texas. For many years, Mr. Barnett has been a Special Olympics Basketball Coach in the Highland Park Independent School District.
Kenton H. Arnold, DVM, Executive Committee
Kenton H. Arnold, DVM, is in private practice in Terrell, Texas. He owns and operates Equine Veterinary Services. An active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, he writes for equestrian publications on issues related to the health and well-being of performance and breeding horses. Dr. Arnold has served as a regular columnist for multiple equine publications. He competes on a regular basis in the National Cutting Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association competitions. Dr. Arnold has been a top ten finisher in both cutting and pole bending competition in the prestigious AQHA World Show.
Paul Lawrence Allen, Director
Paul Allen is the President of the Dallas County Buffalo Soldiers where he works to empower young people through education and inspiration. Mr. Allen has served in various capacities in the Dallas County Juvenile Detention center since 1981. Currently, he provides leadership to juvenile detention officers as a Supervisor in the Group Worker program. Mr. Allen also developed and organized a program for the prevention, treatment, education and intervention of drug abuse among young people. He has been honored in numerous publications for his work with youth and the Buffalo Soldiers.
John Bankston, Director
John Bankston is owner and operator of JR Stables in Dallas and is a licensed Auctioneer. He and his family have lived in Dallas for 38 years. Born in Dallas, John grew up helping with his family's cattle ranch in East Texas and has worked with horses most of his life.
Retired after 20 years as an auto dealer, Johnnow devotes all his time to managing JR stables - a full-care boarding stable. Along with his commitment to the treatment, care and welfare of horses, he has a great desire to see the development of the horse trails along the Trinity River Corridor for the pleasure and enjoyment of horse lovers.
Pat Clements, Director
Pat Clements has been involved with breeding, raising and showing quarter horses for 36 years. She has received several world show championship and reserve world show championship awards, as well as many top ten placings. Pat has served on the AQHA foundation and amateur committees and currently serves on the NSBA foundation. Since 1981, she has been active with the Texas Amateur Quarter Horse Association, which currently hosts a show for over 4,000 entries. As a member of TAQHA, Pat worked to help establish AQHA’s novice and limited programs.
Milla Perry Jones, Director
Milla Perry Jones is Vice President of United Surgical Partners International, Addison, Texas. Prior to joining United Surgical Partners, Ms. Jones was Vice President of Texas Community Bank and Trust from 2003 to 2004 and Vice President of Baylor Health Care System Foundation from 1997 to 2003. She is a member of the Leadership Dallas Alumnae Association, the Charter 100, a Sustaining Member of The Junior League of Dallas, Inc., an advisory board member of the Lisa Landry Childress Foundation and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council Member of the Texas Tech School of Human Sciences.
Molly Huie, Director
Molly Huie is an ARIA certified riding instructor and has shown hunters and jumpers in her riding career.
Marguerite McClinton, PhD, Director
Dr. Marguerite McClinton currently serves as an administrator at Paul Quinn College. She previously served in Student Life at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She also served for three years as the Director of the John W. Elrod University Commons and Campus Activities in Lexington, VA. She received her doctorate in higher education from Florida State University with a minor in public policy. Prior to residing in Florida, she worked in residential life at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA where she focused on Educational Administration and Policy, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She has volunteered with Services of Hope, United Way, Church of the Incarnation, Dallas Life Foundation, Frederick Douglass Elementary School, North Dallas Chapter of the Florida State University Alumni Association, Emory Dallas Alumni Association and the Dallas Dinner Table.
Carol Nichols, Director
Carol Nichols is a co-founder of the Texas Women Ventures Fund and is also a Charter Investor in the fund. She formerly worked with Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. With her background at JPMorgan and Bank of America, Carol enjoys coaching and mentoring young professionals and young companies. She is an Angel Investor and a horse lover.
Jaymie Sanford Sattiewhite, Director
Prior to joining THPI, Ms. Sattiewhite was Central Region Development Manager for the National Federation of Independent Business created a fund development plan, monitored and evaluated all fundraising activities in 11 states, recruited staff and volunteers and developed an annual income and expenditure budget for the region development program. Ms. Sattiewhite served on the THPI Capital Campaign board before accepting the development position. She has held offices and volunteered with numerous nonprofit’s including Renaissance Center Inc. (Executive Board), Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (Executive Board and Beautillion Charity Ball Chair), American Heart Association’s African American Task Force, the Birthing Project of Fort Worth, the Parenting Center of Fort Worth and Passports to College, Inc. Ms. Sattiewhite has served on the Fort Worth Independent School District’s Magnet Advisory Committee, the Montessori Advisory Council, and Site-Based Management Team. Ms. Sattiewhite attended Fisk University and the University of Oklahoma.