Directors
Phil Burrus, President
Phil & his family moved to the Hunting Country in 1956. Born in Greenville, SC, he grew up here, attended Tryon High School and Wofford College. While at Wofford, he met Marcia, his wife of 57 years, at Converse College.
The majority of his career was spent working for American Honda Motor Company where he covered the seven southeastern states for Honda. As division manager for Honda's Parts & Service Operations, his job involved both Honda automobiles and Honda motorcycles. He and Marcia returned to the old home place in the Hunting Country in 2006 where he grew up.
Their home, Blackberry Hill, was built in the 1770s and was home to Ambrose
Mills, an early settler to Polk County. Taking care of this home and property is
a full time hobby.
He joined the HC! Board in the fall of 2007 wanting to give back and help ensure
the Hunting Country area remains as unchanged as possible.
Phil says it is a privilege to serve as the Hunting Country! President.
Bertie Phayer, Vice President
I was born and raised in Tulsa Oklahoma until I went away to Stephens College and
LSU to Major in journalism. Then I married and started travelling. I lived in Libya,
England, Holland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand before settling down on Mockingbird Hill.
In the 33 years I've lived here I worked for H&R Block doing taxes, was on the Community
Foundation board for two terms, was on the Vestry of Church of the Holy Cross, the
founding committee of FETA, was president of the Carriage Club and spent years on the
board of the Foothills Humane Society. I lost my last horse a year and a half ago , after
a lifetime of horse activities, but now keep busy with my two rescue dogs, Truffles and
Snoozy.
Dr. Ben Douglas, Treasurer Dr. Ben died March 16, 2025. He was a great friend and will be missed.
I was born in Tryon and rode with local horsemen through graduation from
Tryon High School in 1967. After undergraduate and Medical School in
Chapel Hill I served in the Army in Washington DC, Germany, Fayetteville, and
San Francisco.
I returned to the mountains and practiced Otolaryngology in Sylva, NC for 35
years. After years of not riding while making a living my wife and I moved back
to Tryon buying a farm in 2016. We both enjoy riding and competing since
returning. Like me, my 4 siblings have returned to the friendliness and beauty
of Tryon.
Janet Peterson, Secretary
Janet grew up in Charlotte NC at a time when Charlotte was infinitely smaller and simpler
than today. Janet began work in the financial industry in the Trust Investment Department
of First Union National Bank. She then worked for Loeb Rhodes Hornblower where she
earned her license to sell securities. Subsequently, while working with E. F. Hutton, she
earned a license to trade commodities.
Over the next 25+ years, she worked for E.F. Hutton (Charlotte and Hartford), Drexel
Burnham Lambert (Hartford) and Merrill Lynch (Charlotte). Janet and her husband, Tory,
moved to Tryon in early 2005 and wish they had made the move sooner.
During her time in Polk County, Janet has served on various boards including: Upstairs
Artspace, The Polk County Chapter of the American Red Cross, The Tryon Garden Club,
Polk County Republican Women's Club, and, most recently, Pacolet Area Conservancy.
Libbie Johnson
Libbie Johnson has been a Polk County resident since 2003, moving here from Charlotte "for the
horses". With a background in public relations and journalism, Libbie has made it her mission to
promote Tryon Horse Country as the place horse lovers call heaven.
Her civic experience includes board member of the Foothills Chamber of Commerce as well as
board member and Executive Director of Polk County's Economic Development Commission.
As an active member of the horse community, Libbie's has published equine directories of goods
and services, chaired a strategic planning committee, produced various marketing materials in
print, web and broadcast. She sits on two national equine-related boards.
Hunting Country and its legacy is near and dear to her heart. Libbie and husband Jerry have
three grown children and one grandchild. She always travels with bail money.
Ann Loving
Although born in New Jersey Ann spent most of her youth in West Virginia. She graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College and did post graduate studies at Towson University in Maryland.
After college Ann moved to Florida and pursued careers in the field of education with the last position being that of an instructor at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She was also center director for the Palm Beach Recreation Department as well as an aerobics instructor. Upon retirement Ann and her late husband Frank moved to their horse farm in Tryon with winter months spent aboard their boat in Florida.
Ann has served both on the FETA board and the TROT advisory committee and
volunteers at the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills Thrift Barn and in the Foothills
Humane Society Foster Program.
Steve Herbert
Steve and his Wife Mary Beth grew up in Pittsburgh PA and chose to move to the Tryon area in 2015. For the past six years they have lived on their farm “Mandolin Winds” a private horse farm in the Hunting Wood Community. They enjoy the equestrian lifestyle while appreciating the beauty of the Blue Ridge foothills.
He is an active board member of the Foothills Equestrian Trails Association and along with
his wife he devotes time riding the horse trails and maintaining and caring for the
Hunting Country section of FETA.
Steve spent his entire professional career in Leadership positions and most recently
retired from 23 years in the telecommunications industry. He is a volunteer with FENCE
and the President of the Hunting Wood Homeowners Association.
Following his retirement last winter, you can find him horseback riding, hiking and golfing.
Dr. Mark McCall
Mark was born in Tryon in the old St. Lukes Hospital on Carolina Drive. He
graduated from Tryon High Schools, Wofford College and the UNC School of
Dentistry. He met his wife Carol in Chapel Hill and they were married in her
hometown of Watertown, Connecticut.
After dental school Mark served three years in the Army Dental Corps
stationed in Zweibrucken, Germany. Mark returned to Tryon in 1974 and
joined his father and brother in the family dental practice on Pacolet Street.
Mark and Carol built their current home in the Hunting Country on Thoroughbred
Lane in 1977.
Mark is active with the Tryon United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts, Spartanburg
Ski Club and the local hiking group, the Tryon Trail Trotters. Carol has been
active in local equestrian activities. She competed in local horse shows and rode
with the Greenville Hounds.
Hunting Country has four Officers, 8 Board Members, organized with volunteers from the Hunting Country.
Board Members serve a three year term and must reside in the HC community.
If you are interested in joining the HCA Board, please contact one of our current Board members.
Meetings are held 5-6 times a year on even months at FENCE on Thursdays.
