'Work hard and good things happen': Chapel Hill horsewoman inducted into N.C. Hall of Fame

Libby Gorman Williams’ stables sit on a hill wedged between fast-growing developments. The stables provide a quiet sanctuary for Gorman Williams’ life with her 14 horses.

Gorman Williams began riding horses in the third grade at the suggestion of her mother’s friend.  

“​​We started taking lessons, and we were riding over Old Durham-Old Chapel Hill Highway, actually near where Wegmans is now,” she said. 

Now, 52 years after her first horse show at the North Carolina State Fair, Gorman Williams was inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame’s Equine Category.

N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler said the Hall of Fame was created in 1980 to honor outstanding participants, volunteers and program directors involved with the fair’s livestock shows.

Gorman Williams has trained hundreds of students for horse shows, and has competed nationally. Additionally, she continually contributed to the fair’s livestock events. 

While her love for horses began early, her passion never faltered. 

“I knew that Libby got her first horse at a very young age, and it was an Arabian named Silver Shadow,” Troxler said. “And she actually took that horse, and her twin sister took her horse to college with her so they wouldn’t be separated from the horses.” 

Gorman Williams predominantly works and trains with Arabian horses and has won several national titles in categories ranging from dress to side saddle with this breed.

She has worked throughout her career to promote other colleagues' horses as well as her own. Over the course of her career, she has influenced her students to continue pursuing horsemanship. 

“Many of what were her kids now are owners of farms, owners of horses, showing and doing things, having their own barns, having their own kids that now are riding horses,” Lynne Gorman, Gorman Williams’ twin sister, said.

Gorman has worked alongside her sister in maintaining their family’s stables, as well as competing in national equine events and showing horses herself.

Gorman Williams began showing horses at the State Fair in 1972 and has witnessed livestock infrastructure on the fairgrounds develop over time. 

Highlighting the fun involved in horse shows and training with the animals is one of Williams' primary goals. 

“I just wanted to share how fun it was, and how all the experiences that we did have because we did end up going and showing at our nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, and met just wonderful people,” she said. 

During her career in horse showing competition, Gorman Williams recalls dining with Patrick Swayze and living across the street from Dean Smith. 

When training students, she said she had goal-oriented, growth-centered expectations for her students. Recognition and trophies were not the focus.

“I have never done any of this for the recognition,” Gorman Williams said. “When I had kids showing, I didn't keep up with what ribbons they won. I wanted them to ride the best they could with the horse they were on.”

When faced with challenges associated with the industry such as sexism and biased competition, she said she remained unfazed. 

“I mean there's always gonna be somebody who's not gonna be happy with you doing good, so you learn the real world, everybody doesn't get a ribbon, and everybody doesn't get first, except in lead line class,” Gorman Williams said.

Her induction into the N.C. Livestock Hall of Fame gives credence to her larger service to North Carolina’s horse industry.

“I did a few really neat things that I had no idea I would ever do,” Gorman Williams said. “But, you just work hard and good things happen."

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