Page 106 - April 2016

IN MEMORIAM Leverne Perry: Father, Cowboy, Man of Influence by Janet VanBebber
Long time horseman Leverne Perry passed away Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016. Most known for his work while Executive Director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, the 84 year old lived a life dedicated to the betterment of our industry.
Leverne Perry was first named Executive Director of the LQHBA in 1987, but was an accomplished horse- men before ever joining the associa- tion. Born in Sieper, Louisiana, Perry was greatly influenced by his father Jesse, who was a cowboy himself. Leverne credited his dad for teaching him the skills that shaped his life. After serving in Korea, Leverne returned home and found early suc- cess in the rodeo arena. In 1952, he competed at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where he won
the first go-round in Calf Roping. Among other titles, Leverne was the 1960 Louisiana State Champion All Around Cowboy. Later, he served
as the President of the Amicus Club Rodeo Association. Leverne was inducted to the Louisiana Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002.
His business interests were
varied as a young man, as
evidenced by other ventures he
enjoyed outside the sport of rodeo.
Among these enterprises, he owned
Leverne Perry Shoes and later
became the host of a Saturday
morning television show called “Leverne Perry and the Little Wranglers,” which began in 1960 and aired for nine years. Nothing brought him more pleasure, though, than being the father
of five daughters. His girls, Karen, Julie, Jill, Leigh, and Amy, were a great source of pride. His daughter Leigh shares his love of racehorses and is the current President of the LQHBA.
No doubt that Leverne’s greatest impact as
a horseman was when he focused on the racing business. After being named the Executive Director of the LQHBA, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the industry over a 25-year period. While at the helm, he was instrumental in legis- lation allowing the expansion of gaming, which led to increased purse revenue and breeder’s incentive funds. He was especially effective in the political efforts to insure that Quarter Horses
got their fair share of the revenue from the added gaming, which is what has made Louisiana-
bred racing one of the most lucrative of all state-bred programs. James David Cain, who
was a Louisiana State Senator for sixteen years, observed Leverne in action at the capitol. He notes that Leverne was the key person in securing Louisiana Quarter Horsemen’s financial growth. While reflecting on Leverne’s activity, the senator stated, “The industry would not be what it is today without him!” In addition to these political efforts, Leverne presided over the association’s first running of the Mardi Gras Futurity and later the first $1,000,000 purse for the Breeders’ Futurity, both contests being for accredited Louisiana-bred foals. He was also an advocate
of LQHBA Youth Scholarships and served on the AQHA Racing Committee and Champions
Committee. Although he retired in 2013, Leverne remained Executive Director Emeritus of LQHBA.
Leverne Perry had a lasting impact on Louisiana racing, but it’s important to note that his hard work wasn’t limited to the Bayou State. Debbie Schauff, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, remembers
that he “was a long time friend and
a wonderful partner when we were working with AQHA to help other state racing associations - those
that didn’t have the experience or resources that our own organiza- tions had.” She continued, “We trav- eled together several times to help others . . . Leverne was so highly respected and loved by many!” Her words are evidence that his efforts were unselfish and far reaching.
A final area where the Perry name has made its mark in the horse business is as a breeder. Leverne registered his first Quarter Horse foal in 1967 and continued to breed mares for nearly five decades. He raised both Louisiana Champions and AQHA Regional Champions, but the most notable offspring he bred is Mr Jess Perry. Named for his late father, the Streakin La Jolla colt would go on to be the 1994 Champion 2 Year Old and Champion Two-Year-Old Colt before becoming a lead-
ing sire. His offspring include AQHA World Champion Apollitical Jess and seven additional AQHA Champions, as well as five millionaires. As a result, our industry’s pedigrees will reflect the Perry name for generations to come.
Leverne Perry will be inducted into the inaugural LQHBA Hall of Fame on April 9, 2016. In addition to this distinguished honor, he was awarded the AQHA Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award in 2011 and the LQHBA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. His service to our industry is unmatched,
and he will long be recognized as a man of influence. If you would like to remember Mr. Leverne Perry, his family asked not to send flowers, but instead invites you to contribute to the LQHBA Youth Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 12300, Alexandria, LA 71315.
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