The granddaughter of a Texas legend, Anne Burnett Tandy created her own legend with her independence and strong will.
Tandy was born near Iowa Park, Texas, in 1905 to Tom L. and Olive Lake Burnett. Educated in the East, Tandy did not forget her ranching heritage.
In March 1940, Tandy and her husband James Goodwin Hall hosted a dinner party for a group of men interested in creating a registry for the Steel Dust and Billy horses of Texas. Among her invitees were Robert Denhardt, George Clegg, Jack Hutchins, Robert Kleberg Jr., W. B. Warren and J. H. Minnick. The following day, these men founded the AQHA.
“Miss Anne,” as she was fondly called, was an honorary vice president of the Association and one of the founders of the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum.
She was the only grandchild of Samuel Burk Burnett, a legend in the Texas cattle industry and founder of the 6666’s Ranches. When Burnett died, he left two-thirds of his estate to Tandy and the rest to Tandy’s mother. Tom L. Burnett, Tandy’s father, founded and owned the Triangle Ranches, northwest of Fort Worth.
When both her parents died, Tandy received full ownership of both the 6666’s and Triangle ranches. With Tandy at the helm, the ranches continued the tradition of excellence in both cattle and horses. Miss Anne’s equine interests were in racehorses and ranch horses, which the 6666’s produced with great success.
The 6666’s and the Triangle ranches owned foundation sires Joe Hancock and Roan Hancock by Joe Hancock. Other famous stallions were Hollywood Gold and Grey Badger II.
Tandy died in 1980 and was inducted into the American Quarter Hose Hall of Fame in 1990.
Biography updated as of March 1990.