by Greg Forde

Former Teamster official and long-time Michigan breeder Rolland McMaster died last week at his Fenton, Michigan home after a long illness. He was 93.

McMaster and his wife Marilyn operated McMaster Farm, which stands perennially leading Michigan sire Demaloot Demashoot. The couple also maintained a farm in Florida.

McMaster was a close associate of the late Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa, but the two parted ways over Hoffa’s efforts to resume leadership of the Teamsters following President Richard Nixon’s commutation of Hoffa’s prison sentence for bribery and corruption.

Known around the track as "Rollie," few Michigan horsemen were aware of McMaster’s past until the FBI, acting on a tip related to Hoffa’s disappearance, began digging on Hidden Dream Farm, which was formerly owned by McMaster.

McMaster, who served as a director of the Michigan Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association until his mid-eighties, continued to attend the races at Great Lakes Downs as recently as this spring, until he became too ill to travel.

“He was a good friend of racing and a good friend of ours,” said fellow owner and breeder Jerry Campbell, “Rollie’s a guy we’re going to miss.”

Greg Forde is a Michigan-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent