The American Association of Equine Practitioners welcomed Bill Brewer, former head of the American Quarter Horse Association, to the AAEP board of directors at the 55th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. Brewer will serve as the equine industry board member and was sworn in at the President's Luncheon Dec. 8.

Brewer of Amarillo, Texas, served as executive vice president of the American Quarter Horse Association from 1992 until his retirement in March 2009. Brewer worked with the AQHA’s five-member executive committee to coordinate the activities of the world’s largest breed registry and equine organization. He oversaw the more than 300 employees at AQHA and the adjacent American Quarter Horse Foundation, which underwent renovation in 2007.

Brewer is past chairman of the American Horse Council's Horse Show Advisory Committee and currently serves as an AHC Trustee. In 1995 Brewer, an animal science graduate from Oklahoma State University, received the university's Animal Science Distinguished Graduate honor. In 1999 he was one of two people selected as Texas 4-H Alumni of the Year and in 2003 he received the Livestock Publications Council Headliner of the Year Award. More recently The National Cowboy Symposium bestowed Brewer with a Special Recognition Award.

As a youth, Brewer was a regular rodeo competitor, leading his career involvement with horses and livestock. In 2007 he was inducted into the Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo Hall of Fame. He enjoys riding American Quarter Horses, attending equine sporting events and playing golf in his spare time