By Randy Monk
sports.desk@theindependent.com

Roush would later work for the Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders Association, an organization she still works for today as the registrar.

"I taught business for three years, then my husband Don finished his service commitment and we returned to Nebraska," Roush recalled.

Looking for a new career, Roush noticed an ad for help in the racing office at Fonner Park.

"I contacted the people in the racing office, and Al Swihart, who was CEO at Fonner at the time, made me feel comfortable and assured me I could do the job," Roush said.

Indeed Marlene could do the job -- she held the position in the racing office for 30 years.

"It was a wonderful time working in the racing office," Roush said. "When I started the racing secretary was a great gentlemen named Ralph Stubbs, who gave me advice that I still heed to this day."

Stubbs assured Roush that the best way to learn about racing was to not be afraid to ask questions.

"Ralph said that so many people start a job and think they know everything about it," Roush said. "That's just not true. If you don't know something go ahead and ask questions."

Stubbs was just one of many people around Fonner Park that have made an impression upon Roush.

"There's so many great people around here," she said. "I hate to list many, because I would be overlooking so many other people, but one thing I've noticed is that racing people are just the best to be around. If you have a problem, they'll run to your aid to help you."

Roush did recall some of the riders who have ridden at Fonner Park over the years.

"Boyd Morris was a real gem, and Wayne Anderson (currently assistant racing secretary); of course, Wayne was a lot smaller back then," Roush said with a laugh.

Two Nebraska Hall of Fame jockeys also brought a smile to Roush's face.

"In later years, Rob Williams was just outstanding and Fred Ecoffey was a favorite of so many people," Roush said.

Ecoffey recently retired as clerk of scales at Fonner Park and is living in South Dakota.

"We miss Fred around here, something awful," Roush said. "He's such a good man."

Current Fonner Park CEO Hugh Miner has worked with Roush for many years.

"Marlene worked for Fonner for many years, and also for the Breeders Association, she had a chance to go full-time with the Breeders Association, we hated to lose her, but it was a great opportunity for her."

Miner strongly praised Roush for her years of service to Nebraska thoroughbred racing.

"She's a wonderful person, and very very dedicated to her work in racing," Miner said.

Roush started working for the Breeders Association in conjunction with her Fonner Park job in 1979.

"Paul Kemling approached me and asked if I would be interested in becoming the NTBA Registrar," Roush recalled. "I held positions in the racing office and as the Registrar for 10 years before going solely with the Breeders Association.

Roush describes her work with the Nebraska Breeders Association as a labor of love, but a very busy one.

"I'm often asked what I do as registrar," Roush said. "Basically, I register all Nebraska stallions, broodmares and their foals, and make sure all the money goes to the correct people and places."

According to Nebraska Breeders Association board member Roger Luebbe, Roush does much more than that.

"Marlene is extremely valuable to the Breeders Association," Luebbe said. "She is so meticulous in her work, and she knows all the rules of the Breeders Association and sticks to them."

Luebbe related a story about accounting that typifies Roush's meticulous nature.

"One year the association had given out checks just short of $1 million, but we were 17 cents off in accounting," Luebbe said. "I told Marlene, well that's close enough, 17 cents isn't a problem, but I could see it was a problem for her."

Roush worked through the night and got it down to the penny.

"Who else would have worried about that 17 cents?" Luebbe said. "But she was and that was important to her."

Roush admits that in the age of computers the meticulous job of record keeping is easier, but she still has a triple filing system, with manual backups. This filing system proved invaluable in the 1980 tornado that hit Grand Island.

"We had the Breeders Association records in a quonset hut at our house," Roush said. "The tornado took our house and the quonset hut, but with my backup files we were able to retrieve all the information."

Al Swihart then asked Roush to move the Breeders Association office to Fonner Park, where Roush now occupies her own office.

Marlene's husband Donald passed away in 2000, but she keeps busy with her job and spending as much time as possible with her children, who she is extremely proud of.

"My son Mike is in the trucking business here in Grand Island, and my daughter Dana Jelinek is the head of Habitat for Humanity," Roush said.

As for continuing to work for the Breeders Association, Roush is adamant about her passion for her work and her desire to stay on the job. At the Breeders Association dinner in February, Roush was recognized for her 50 years of service to the thoroughbred industry.

"I'm asked often when will I retire," Roush said at the banquet, "I reply, realistically there will come a time when I'll turn over the reins to someone else, but I have no plans to retire. In the meantime, I will do all I can to work with you."

As Roush so eloquently says: "Racing people are the best." She should know -- she's one of the most valuable.