Sumner Patrick "Pat" Terry

Sumner Patrick “Pat” Terry, 78, passed away December 14, 2021. Whether you knew him as a U.S. Navy man, a Lexington attorney, the president of the fabled Thoroughbred Record, the owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds, the vice president of Domino Stud Farm, or as an avid golfer, Sumner Patrick “Pat” Terry was first and foremost, a gentleman.

Pat’s life was one adventure after another, though not always enviable. Born to U.S. Naval Reserve pilot Harold Harris Denery and the beautiful Frances LaVerne Schnasse in Portsmouth, Virginia on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1943 at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Tragically, Pat lost his father to an aviation training accident when he was just 15 months of age. 

His mother eventually remarried, to W.B. “Bill” Terry, who formally adopted the young blond haired Pat. As a young boy, Pat survived a bout with polio. In the Terry household, Pat grew up with older brother Warren and eventually with younger brothers Mike and Tim. The family moved frequently as W.B. pursued a livelihood as a Coca-Cola bottler. This took the family from Corpus Christi, TX, to San Jose, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, Fort Wayne, IN, and finally, in 1966, to Lexington, KY.

Pat was schooled at the Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, graduated from Indiana University (where he met and married Norene Maher) before joining the U.S. Navy and shipping out to Sasebo, Japan in 1967. While stationed in Sasebo, Pat was joined by his wife and their young daughter, Laura Marie. While living in Sasebo, the threesome became a foursome as Kevin Patrick joined in the fun. Pat served as a Communications Watch Officer and received an honorable discharge after 5 years serving our country during the Viet Nam war.

Pat and family joined the greater Terry family in Lexington and he enrolled in law school at the University of Kentucky in 1972. He began and ended his law career with Gess Mattingly, leaving the firm around 1979 to pursue his growing love for the enticing world of Thoroughbred breeding and racing. He had already purchased his first 2 mares - Princess Surfspray and Bella Parlatore, who resided on High Point Farm with Pat and family, which now included youngest daughter, Lea Theresa.

In 1980, Pat and several equine partners bought the Thoroughbred Record magazine, the oldest continuously published Thoroughbred publication in the United States at the time. 

A move to historic Poplar Hill Farm was befitting of his Thoroughbred ambitions. Pat and family generously hosted many international Thoroughbred journalists at their home who traveled to Lexington for the Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland sales. As president of the Thoroughbred Record, Pat began a quest to spread the word about the magazine overseas. Trips and invitations to races in France, England, Australia, Japan, and Argentina followed. 

Pat loved the Thoroughbred community in the Bluegrass and loved participating in the farm league softball games in his khakis, white cleats, and deep blue Thoroughbred Record t-shirt. He loved baseball as a kid, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he used to see play when he lived there as a boy. The softball games were a welcomed way for him to relive his youth while enjoying the camaraderie of the Thoroughbred Record family, whom he had the utmost respect.

When the city of Lexington began considering a mounted police unit in the 1980s, Pat was the treasurer of the city committee tasked with researching the logistics of creating such a unit.

Despite the personal tough times of the mid-to-late 1980s that led to the shedding of the Thoroughbred Record and Poplar Hill Farm, Pat’s love of the breed never wavered and he later went on to become vice president of Domino Stud Farm under the ownership of the wonderful Ken T. Jones. 

Although Pat was frequently found on the golf courses of Fayette County, his 15 minutes of golfing fame came in 1988 when he shot a hole-in-one when paired with professional golfer, Gary Player, during the Senior Classic Golf Tournament at Griffin Gate Golf Course.

With the onset of grandchildren, Pat took the big step into retirement so he could golf more and remarry to Barbara Curtis.

Pat had a knack for crossword puzzles, brain games, and had a voracious appetite for knowledge. He was always researching and reading about the latest subjects to catch his fancy – the wine industry in Australia, mineral mining in central Africa, world religions, diseases of the brain, and of course Thoroughbred pedigrees. In his youth, he collected stamps, international coins, and vinyl records.

Nothing defines who Pat Terry really was better than his own character, for he was as respectful, kind, and polite as the day is long. Although he could talk about any subject with authority, he much preferred listening to and conversing with his children and grandchildren. He always had time for them in his life. His favorite word of advice for any situation was, “It’s all survivable”. That it is.

Pat is preceded in death by his birth father Harold Harris Denery (1945), mother Frances LaVerne Schnasse Terry (2009), adopted father W.B. “Bill” Terry (2009), and brother William Michael Terry (2018). He is survived by his wife, Barbara, 2 brothers, Warren (Dianne) and Tim (Flo); his 3 children, Laura Marie Terry Bruder (Barry Bruder), Kevin Patrick Terry (Michele LaCroix Terry), and Lea Theresa Terry; 5 grandchildren, Ruby Sidney Bruder, Skyler Frances Bruder, Patrick Benjamin Terry, Amelia Grace Terry, and Alexis Rose Terry, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A public visitation for Pat will be held on Thursday, December 30^th from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Milward-Man O’War located at 1509 Trent Blvd. A private service and interment will be held for the family.

The family requests that those wishing to send flowers please consider making a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association in Pat’s memory instead.

There are 3 ways to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association; by contacting their 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900, by mailing a check to, Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011, or online at https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1.

To share a remembrance of Pat or to offer condolences to his family, please visit milwardfuneral.com.