Hall of Fame - People May  2, 2024

The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Hall-of-Fame showcases the many horses and people who have earned the distinction of becoming part of Quarter Horse Racing history in Louisiana. To be part of the Hall-of-Fame, horses and people must have been outstanding over a period of years in a variety of categories. They must have brought exceptional visibility and/or contribution to Quarter Horse Racing and the State of Louisiana.

Hall-of-Fame inductees are chosen each year by a selection committee and are honored at the annual LQHBA Awards Banquet. The inaugural inductee class were announced in January 2016. On April 9, 2016, Leverne Perry and Claude and Bessie Lea Jeane, Oh Black Magic, Rocket's Magic and Royal Bushwhacker were inducted into the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) inaugural Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the association. Owner-breeder Claude W. Boutte, Jr. and Grade 1 winner and industry leading sire Feature Mr Jess were inducted in 20121.

Outstanding Louisiana Quarter Horse trainer Phillip Calais, Sr. and iconic stallion Heza Fast Dash will be honored in the 2022 class.

A special thank you to Martha Claussen for research and writing bios and to Speedhorse and TRACK magazines for helping track down photos of these inductees from their archives.

The inductees have each played a significant role in Louisiana Quarter Horse industry. Inductees into the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Hall-of-Fame are:

PEOPLE

  • Claude W. Boutte, Jr.
  • Claude & Bessie Jeane
  • Dale Rogers
  • Glenn Fontenot
  • J.E. Jumonville, Jr.
  • John L. Soileau, Sr.
  • Leverne Perry
  • Lee Berwick
  • W.A. Darling

HORSES

  • Feature Mr Jess
  • Go Vicki Meyers
  • Hemp Meyers
  • Hesajoy
  • Jess Louisiana Blue
  • Mr Jess Perry
  • Oh Black Magic
  • Rockets Magic
  • Royal Bushwhacker
  • Streakin La Jolla
  • Vals Fortune

Below are photos of each Hall of Fame member inducted in 2021. Click their photo or name in the left toolbar to read their biographical information. To view previous Hall-of-Fame member bios click on "PEOPLE" or "HORSES" in the left tool bar.

Leverne Perry

Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2016

Leverne Perry — Inducted 2016

Since registering his first Quarter Horse foal in 1967, Leverne Perry has been a prominent breeder and owner in Louisiana Quarter Horse racing. Born in Sieper, Louisiana, as a teenager, Perry began roping calves and rodeoing, but became intrigued with owning and breeding racehorses.

When his father wanted a race-bred mare, Leverne found Scoopie Fein for him for $1,000 and bred her to Streakin La Jolla in 1992. After his father's passing, Leverne named the colt in honor of the “greatest man he ever knew”, his father, Mr Jess Perry. The Champion producing stallion ranks as the second-highest leading living sire of money earners, with his progeny earning over $47 million. Perry has owned and bred accredited-Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses for close to five decades, including not only LQHBA Champions but also three AQHA Regional Champions; Streakin Carl, esse Leigh Perry ess Pop My Rocket.

Perry played a key role in successful legislative efforts, which resulted in slot machines at Louisiana racetracks. Serving as Executive Director of LQHBA from 1987-2013, Louisiana Quarter Horse racing flourished into the richest state-bred program in the nation with significant gains in purse money and breeder incentives for mares and stallions of accredited Louisiana-breds.

Leading sire Mr Jess Perry is named for Leverne's father Jesse Perry. © Don Sugart

During his tenure, he helped develop the Youth Scholarship program, the first Mardi Gras Futurity and the first $1,000,000-guaranteed Breeders Futurity for Louisiana-bred foals. His tireless efforts to promote and expand Louisiana racing and breeding helped develop the annual yearling sale into one of the largest state-bred Quarter Horse sales in the country. He has always been very proud to promote and work for the LQHBA and its members.

Perry has been honored with many distinguished service awards. He was inducted into the Louisiana Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002. In recognition of his 25th year of service as the executive director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, he was honored by AQHA with the 2011 ordon Crone Special Achievement award. In 2014 he received the LQHBA Lifetime Achievement award. He served on the AQHA Racing Committee and the AQHA Champions committee. He remains Executive Director Emeritus of LQHBA.

Perry, 84, is a devoted family man. He has five daughters: Karen Rush, Julie Normand, Jill Gutierrez, Leigh Lepinski and Amy Grimes, 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Of course, he always acknowledges how much he learned from his parents and still wears a pair of his dad's boots.

"I can wear his boots, but never fill his shoes," Perry acknowledged.