Bill Englund grew up in Salinas, California on a small farm, and as a young boy he participated in livestock programs in FFA and 4-H.  At one time he was feeding 500 hogs, the sale of which helped pay for his college education at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California.  After graduation, Bill moved to Arizona in 1960 and started breeding and showing Quarter Horses.

One of the very first things Bill did was to join the AQHBA (Arizona Quarter Horse Breeders Association, as it was named then) and get involved at the state level, showing horses.  AQHA Champion, Canyon Tom was purchased and became the foundation sire for Englund Quarter Horses.  Canyon Tom sired earners of 1,106 AQHA points, 2 AQHA Champions, 4 Superior Award winners, and numerous ROM earners.

Perhaps the job Bill has enjoyed most is that of AQHA Judge.  In 1971, Bill became an approved AQHA judge and continued to judge Quarter Horses around the globe for thirty-six years, until 2012.  During that time he has judged the AQHA World Show four times, the AQHYA World Show, European World Championship three times, the Belgian World Championships twice, the United Kingdom Championships twice, the Brazilian Championships twice, the Swedish Championships, the Australian Championship show, as well as shows in Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay.  Bill also holds or has held approved judges’ cards with American Paint Horse Association, National Snaffle Bit Association, Pinto Association, American Appaloosa Association, Palomino Horse Breeders Association, and the National Reining Horse Association. Bill has judged most of the other Breed Association Championship shows as well. He has also been inducted into the Pinto Horse Judges’ Hall of Fame.

Becoming more involved with Quarter Horses within the state of Arizona got Bill Englund elected as AQHBA President in 1972, and AQHA Director in 1976.  After three years as chairman of the AQHA Show Committee, Bill was elected to serve on the AQHA Executive Committee in 1988, and became AQHA President in 1992.  He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2002.

Bill owns and operates Englund Equipment in Cashion, Arizona, a major long haul trucking company, since 1964.  Bill has three children, Sherry (Laird) Hatch, Les and Sean Englund, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Bill Englund has spent his life dedicated to Quarter Horses, and most importantly, the people and Quarter Horses of Arizona.