5 Individuals, 3 Horses, 1 Ranch Inducted into OK Hall of Fame

Bethany, OK – The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame was created in 2005 to recognize outstanding individuals and/or horses, whose contributions involving the American Quarter Horse significantly impacted the great state of Oklahoma’s equine industry.

The 13th annual Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, January 13th at the Embassy Suites, 741 North Phillips Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104; (405) 239-9000; at approximately 5:15 pm.

The ceremony is a ticketed event, open to the public, benefitting the Hall of Fame. A cocktail reception will begin the proceedings followed by dinner and the induction ceremony. This event is dependent on the generosity of donors who acknowledge those contributions with financial support.

The 2017 Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Inductees will be:

Individuals

Wayne Halvorson

Wayne Halvorson is a past chairperson of the AQHA Professional Horseman Committee, current member of the AQHA Judges Committee, was elevated to the position of AQHA Director Emeritus, and a past President of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association. Halvorson was the architect of the OQHA Redbud Spectacular Quarter Horse Show and proposed the Regional Horse Show concept. Wayne was a founding member of the National Snaffle Bit Association and the World Conformation Horse Association.

He has been around ranching all his life growing up in North Dakota on a cattle ranch. He participated in rodeo, 4H, and FFA. Wayne earned a degree in Business Administration at the University of North Dakota with honors.

Wayne and his three children have had numerous AQHA and PHBA World Champions. Halvorson has always been a strong proponent for the welfare of the horse and dedicated to the American Quarter Horse Association. He and his wife Rebecca live in Guthrie OK.

Ray Kimsey

Ray Kimsey was born June 11, 1932 in Oklahoma City, OK to parents Derounda Kimsey and Thelma J Jackson Kinsey. He graduated from Putnam City High School and was awarded a basketball sponsorship from Oklahoma State University. After three years, he knew in his heart that he wanted to participate in the Meats Judging Team, not basketball. During this time period, he married his high school sweetheart, Delores Hales, in 1953. He graduated with a degree in Animal Science in 1954.

Kimsey went into the military during the Korean War and returned home in 1956. He went to work for Armor & Company as a cattle buyer in Oklahoma City. The company moved him to Dodge City, KS, then Amarillo, TX, and back to Dodge City. Ray went into business with a partner and transported cattle for a couple of years. Then, along with some partners, he established the first commercial feed yards in the Oklahoma panhandle, the Texas County Feed Yards, Inc. It was the largest capacity ever for a feedlot at 33,000 head. He served as General Manager/Owner 1965-1992, and General Manager 1992-1996. Then, he returned to Oklahoma City.

Motivated by his two daughters’ interest in horses, Ray became a member, state director and ultimately the 1998 Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association President. He served as an OQHA Youth Director from 1992-1994. During the time, the OQHA Youth Team won a championship at the 1992 All American Quarter Horse Congress and an AQHYA World Championship. Kinsey raised $30,000 to offset the OQHYA Youth Association, which found itself in debt. Kimsey served as an AQHA Elected Director and on the AQHA Equine Research Committee for two years.

Delores and Ray Kimsey live in Oklahoma City and raised six children, Donna Lynn, Ruth Marie, Kristin Michelle, Mark Ross, Robert Dale and the late Richard Owen.

Carl Pevehouse

Carl was born December 10, 1933, in Oktaha, OK, to Theo Henry Pevehouse and Edna Marie Jones Pevehouse. He graduated from Oktaha High School and attended Oklahoma A&M. Carl served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Rozella Baker. Carl was self-employed in an oil-field valve repair and separator business, starting PV Valve in 1976.

Pevehouse’s passion was breeding, raising, and racing American Quarter Horses. He was a true horseman in the Quarter Horse industry. He started the “Candy” line of horses in 1979. Carl has had much success with his “Candy” bloodline, which has produced many winners, including the Remington Park Derby in April of 2014. Although Carl had already passed, his ultimate dream was fulfilled when Jess Good Candy won the 2015 All American Futurity, and he was well represented by Rosella and all his family as they celebrated his success.

For over 30 years, he was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association, where he served on the Board of Directors for several years. Carl was named 2011, 2012 and 2013 Champion Oklahoma Owner and Breeder. One of his earlier points of pride was in the early 1960s when he was the second rancher to bring Charolaise cattle to Oklahoma. He and Rozella had a small ranch by the name of Rose P Ranch. Carl died on April 26, 2014.

Bill Price

Bill Price was born April 6, 1937 and has been married for over 60 years to Mary Emerson Price. They raised four children. Bill and Mary live on their ranch in Thackerville, OK. Bill only completed the 8th grade but he saw the importance of education. He has helped many young individuals go to college by offering scholarships.

Bill’s first racehorse, Master Hand Jr, purchased as a tax deduction in 1986, started the Quarter Horse Racing journey for the Price family. Then came “A Real Man,” and what a horse he was. In 2002, he was the AQHA Champion Gelding, and Overall Two-Year-Old Champion. In 2003, the OQHRA awarded him Horse of the Year, Champion Quarter Horse Racing Stock, Champion Aged Gelding, and Champion Oklahoma Bred. Bill was the leading Oklahoma Owner and Breeder that year as well. That same year, Frisco Fling was recognized by the OQHRA as leading Dam of Breeding Stock.

Although A Real Man was one of Bill’s favorite horses, Southern Cartel shares that honor. He ran an impressive two-year-old year, then won the 2003 Ruidoso Derby, the Lazy E Derby, was 2nd in the Texas Classic Derby, won the Rainbow Derby, Mr Jet Moore Handicap, a finalist for the All American Derby, Refrigerator Handicap, Championship at Sunland Park, All American Gold cup, was named High Point Three-Year-Old, and set track records along the way. After his racing career was over, Southern Cartel headed to JEH to stand at stud.

On June 6th 2006, a barn fire broke out. 6 horses were killed, including Southern Cartel, the only un-syndicated stud in the barn and a horse that Price had turned down a 4 million dollars for.

Bill’s horses held numerous track records at Los Alamitos for 12 years. Price was the 2009-2015 AQHA Regional High Point Oklahoma Breeder and Owner. He earned the title of OQHRA Leading Breeder and Owner for many years. As an owner, Bill had had 3,273 starts with 57 stakes wins and earnings of over $10,000,000.

Horses

Eastex

Eastex was a brown colt foaled in 1982 by the Thoroughbred stallion, Texas Dancer, and out of an Easy Jet mare, Tall Cotton. Eastex won his first race by a length in a 250-yard maiden at Manor Downs in 1984, and that was the beginning of one of the most stellar seasons of any two-year-old Quarter Horse in history. Trained by James McArthur, Eastex won the All American Futurity-G1, Dash For Cash Futurity-G1, Bay Meadows Futurity-G1 (where he set a New Track Record and a career-high 106 speed index), and 10 other races. He finished third in the Grade 1 Kindergarten and Golden State Futurities. He was the AQHA High-Money Earning Horse that year, earned AQHA Supreme Race Horse Honors, and was named the 1982 Champion 2 Year Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding.

At the age of three, in 1985, Eastex began the year winning the Golden State Derby-G1. He then finished second in the El Primero Del Ano Derby-G1. He made 8 starts at 4 years of age, finishing third in the Vessels Maturity-G1. He was also a finalist in the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1, World’s Championship Classic-G1, All American Gold Cup-G1, and Horsemen’s QHRA Championship-G1. He ended the year with another $27,226.

Eastex came back as a 5 year old in 1987 for one final race, finishing 7th in the Grade 1 Peninsula Championship. Eastex earned $1,573,622 as a 2-year-old, and he retired with $1,869,406 from a race record of 31-13(4)-4(1)-5(3)

In 1993 at the age of 11, Eastex was sold by his breeder/owner for $4,000 to interests in Mexico. A group of horsemen put together by Andrew Golden and his mother Connie (owners of the periodical Speedhorse, Inc at that time) led an effort to raise $10,000 to purchase Eastex and return him to the United States where he was to be retired. The honorary Eastex owners included Gail Butler, Andy and Jean Chavers, Sandy and Bob Erwin, Richard Fell DVM, Kenneth Freund, Robert Gentry, Jim and Marilyn Helzer, Jeff Holmes, Roger Knight Esq., Alfred Marez, Linda and Jerry Minter, Bruce and Rexanne Pilkenton (Bruce was Eastex’s jockey), Joe and Joyce Platt, Paula Platt, Dee and Betty Raper (Belle Mere Farms), Joella Rogers, Ernie Rowe, Ron and Melany Shalz, the John Shaw family, Mike Taylor, Gerald Vetter, Jerry Windham, Butch Wise and Lazy E Ranch, Robert and Cynthia Zoch, Blue Ribbon Downs, Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, and his Speedhorse family.

The gelding held the distinction of being the all-time leading money earning 2-year-old for 27 years, only to be overtaken by Stolis Winner in 2008. Eastex earned $1,573,622 as a 2-year-old. He retired with $1,869,406 from a race record of 31-13(4)-4(1)-5(3).

Eastex was allowed to live out his life in dignity. After his return to Oklahoma, he lived at Andy Golden’s farm in Norman and then moved to Dee and Betty Raper’s Belle Mere Farm where he lived until at 32. Then, the hard decision was made, and Eastex was euthanized on March 25, 2013, due to complications of old age.

Mr Master Bug

In 1982, the world of Quarter Horse Racing was in awe of an accomplishment that has yet to be reproduced by anyone. Owner Marvin Barnes watched two of his homebreds, Mr Master Bug and Miss Squaw Hand, finish first and second in the first ‘true’ $1,000,000 horse race the All American Quarter Horse Futurity. It was the first and last time an owner had the top two finishers in the All American Futurity.

Trainer Jack Brooks qualified both of the entries into the finals of the rich event for owners Marvin and Lela Barnes. With jockey Jacky Martin aboard Mr Master Bug, and jockey Jerry Burgess aboard Miss Squaw Hand, the Barnes owned entries race down the track on the Labor event to finish 1st and 2nd in the 440 yard dash.

In his three-year-old campaign, Mr Master Bug would come back to Ruidoso to contest the All American Derby. He was coupled as an entry with Miss Squaw Hand, again with Martin and Burgess aboard for trainer Jack Brooks. Mr Master Bug would hit the wire in front, but then was disqualified and place third for interference. Instead of getting a check for $564,161 for winning the All American Derby, he earned $110,256 for the disqualified third place finish. Mr Master Bug retired with a career total of $1,793,718.

Perpetualism

As a weanling in October, 1993, he was sold to Rose Poindexter of Calera, OK. In November of 1994, Jerry Wells saw that royalty was in him, and one of his customers at the time, Joan Crews Hoyt of San Angelo, TX, purchased him with the intention that Jerry would buy him from her at a later date. In March, 1995, Wells purchased Perpetualism at the same price that Joan had paid and he now was the sole owner.

On his show record from AQHA, Perpetualism accumulated 28 Halter points in Open, shown by Jerry and his daughter, Nancy Wells. He also earned 6 halter points in Amateur shown by Rose Poindexter’s son, Brandon White. Perpetualism earned 53 firsts, 3 seconds and 1 fifth. Jerry Wells showed Perpetualism to AQHA World Champion two-year-old stallion in 1995, AQHA World Champion three-year-old stallion in 1996 and AQHA World Champion Aged stallion in 1997.

In January, 2002, Jerry’s health forced him to sell Perpetualism. Wayne and Rebecca Halvorson arranged for the stallion to be purchased by Cal and Rosemarie Loree of Loree Quarter Horses in Guthrie, Oklahoma. In January, 2005, Ed Melzer of Guthrie, became a partnership with Cal Loree on ownership of the stallion. Wayne Halvorson was the breed manager of Perpetualism on behalf of Loree Quarter Horses, until the stallion died on April 1, 2010.

Lazy E Ranch

Envisioned and built by owner E.K. Gaylord II, the entities that make up the Lazy E are an incredible part of the equine breeding and western sports industries in Oklahoma and across the nation. The Lazy E Ranch opened its gates in the fall of 1984 and has evolved into one of the most progressive equine breeding and sales prep facilities in the nation. Since its inception, the ranch has been involved in both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing industries. With the purchase of World Champion and World Champion sire Special Effort in 1989, the Lazy E began to earn recognition as one of the top Quarter Horse breeding operations in the country.

Over the years, the Lazy E has been home to outstanding Thoroughbred stallions such as Slewacide, sire of the great Clever Trevor, and broodmare sire of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide. Easy Jet, one of the Quarter Horse racing’s most influential stallions, stood at Lazy E Ranch. Today, the Lazy E Ranch stands Quarter Horse racing’s #1 Living Sire of Money Earners and Stakes Winners in the legendary Corona Cartel. Also among the Lazy E stallion lineup is a perennial leading sire of money earners, PYC Paint Your Wagon.

Sitting on part of the Lazy E’s rolling acres is the Lazy E Arena. Regarded as the world’s premier western entertainment facility, the facility is recognized as the largest indoor rodeo arena in the world. Since its inception, the building has hosted world champions, world championships and personalities galore and now hosts more than 25 events each year, including many concerts, conventions, wedding receptions, bicycle racing, trade-shows, and dirt-bike racing.

In 2005, Gaylord sold the property to a partnership from Nevada, and in October 2013 the property was sold to the McKinney Family from Midland, Texas. The McKinneys have long recognized the importance of the Lazy E’s place both as an event venue and as a leader in the Quarter Horse breeding, racing and sales industries and are committed to a future of growth and a continued alliance with Oklahoma’s horsemen.

Bud Breeding Spirit Award – Don Earl LaPorte

When horse enthusiast Don LePorte lost sight in one eye due to diabetes he continued competing on his beloved Quarter Horses. But one year later he completely lost his sight and was at the end of his rope. Don, with the help of his employees, managed a stocker cow operation. Then, he discovered trail riding.

Don was interested in helping others battle the depression of blindness. In 2008, his idea came to fruition. He organized a ride for students at the Oklahoma School for the Blind from Muskogee OK. Volunteers brought horses and assisted Don with his dream at Lowell and Donna Hobbs Barefoot Ranch near Haskell OK. Now the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association and Rocky & Deborah Webb host this annual event at Silver Spur Western Lodge, Haskell, OK.

Tickets

Tickets are available for $55 from the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association, 5506 N Rockwell Ave, Bethany, OK 73008-2040, (405) 440-0694 voice, (405) 440-0649 fax, Email: okqha@sbcglobal.net, Website: www.okqha.com.

If you wish to sponsor an inductee and/or their award that form is also found on the OQHA website.