Chris Shaver, president and CEO of the John Ewing Company, makers of Formula 707 equine supplements, died at his home on May 26 following a long battle with cancer. He was 61.

“Chris deserves a great deal of the credit in making the John Ewing Company the vibrant, growing company it is today,” said Melanie Luark, the John Ewing Company president. “When he first came here, he knew a lot more about people and what motivates them than he did about horses. He learned about horses as he went along.”

Under Shaver’s guidance, the John Ewing Company grew from a small regional company into an industry leader. The company moved aggressively into export markets, revamped its sales structure, strengthened small animal and human product lines and established a strong web-based sales presence. The company also gained the endorsement of some of the top names in rodeo, including barrel racers Lindsay Sears, Kelly Maben, and Laura Lambert, ropers K.C. Jones and Stran Smith, and steer wrestler Todd Suhn.

“Chris really placed the emphasis on sourcing the best ingredients we could find and putting out the highest quality product we could make,” Luark said. He was instrumental in the company becoming a member of the National Animal Supplement Council, a trade group dedicated to maintaining the quality and integrity of animal supplements.

Melanie Luark will continue to handle the day-to-day business operations and has been named the new president. The John Ewing Company has named Annette Shaver, Chris Shaver’s widow, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“Chris made us into a high-quality, 21st Century company,” Luark said. “The best way we can honor his memory is by continuing to practice the high standards of quality he set for us.”
A scholarship fund has been established in his name and contributions may be sent to the Chris Shaver Scholarship Fund, c/o Boulder Flatirons Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 17775, Boulder, CO 80306.