Many of us now active at SIRE may not recognize Mike’s strong influence at SIRE, but most know and love his wonderful gift to us, Bubba (known as Bob at Pecan Mill Ranch, his former home). Just one of many examples is illustrated at left in Emma’s drawing for kindergarten. We even had volunteers move with Bubba when he moved to a different SIRE site.
As SIRE Board member, Molly Sweeney explains, “Mike helped SIRE a lot in our early driving days. He was a great man and a friend of SIRE. He will be truly missed in the Texas driving community.” Even as recently as last year, Mike provided clinics to para-equestrians with US Driving for the Disabled.
Karin Broker, President of the Houston Area Carriage Association, notes in her email announcing Mike’s passing on Good Friday, April 18th, 2014, “The driving world has lost an amazing man. His international legacy, however, will live on with his competitive driving career, the talented horses he trained and the United States driving community that drove with Mike as President of the Jury.”
She asks all to “Please keep Mike, wife Jerry and their son, Bill, in your prayers and thoughts.”
A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at Brenham’s First Baptist Church at 301 Market St., Brenham. Memorials may be made to the New Beginnings Life Ministries Pregnancy Care Center in Brenham, Building Fund at Brenham’s First Baptist Church, Hospice Brazos Valley in Brenham, or the Music Ministry of Brenham’s First Baptist Church.
Mike raised or trained incredibly accomplished horses:
- AQHA Finals Top Three Junior Cutting Horse in 1974,
- NCHA Top Ten 1986,
- Foundation Quarter Horse Open Versatility Champion in 1997 and 1998,
- NCHA Semi-finals,
- NCHA Derby Finals, as well as the
- National Reining Horse Leading Sire.
And competing with his home-breds, he proudly represented the U.S. and Texas:
- 2003 World Pairs Driving Championships in Paris France
- 2005 World Pairs Driving Championships in Salzburg, Austria as well as the
- 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
There are lots of amazing videos of Mike piloting his horses:
Live Oak CDE Four In Hand Water Obstacle
Mike McLennan – 2010 Little Everglades Hazard 2
Mike McLennan at 2010 WEG
Mike McLennan dressage
