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.

Dale Rogers

Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2020

Dale Rogers / © Speedhorse Magazine

Dale Rogers has been a prominent Louisiana Quarter Horse breeder and racehorse owner for 50 years. Born in Knobel, Arkansas, he faced some very tough challenges as a child, losing his mother when he was just four and his father nine years later. As he grew up, he worked at the sawmill and on the family cotton farm.

In 1968, Rogers came to Louisiana on a coon and hog hunting trip. He immediately fell in love with the land and felt that its richer soil content would be ideal for bean, corn and wheat farming. But something else caught his eye: the beautiful horses! The hunting property he visited in Concordia Parish was up for lease, so with little hesitation, he moved his family to “the Davis place”.

He ended up settling down in Lettsworth Louisiana and met Curtis Bordelon, who trained for Jumonville Farms. Bordelon was instrumental in helping Rogers explore Louisiana breeding and racing. One of Rogers first horses was Jet Meyers, an accomplished 870-yard runner, but many stakes winners followed, including Above the Clouds and Sayin Adios, winner of the 1988 Firecracker Derby and Adios Movin On. Each were Superior Racehorse honorees from AQHA. He also bred multiple-stakes winner, Clouds Sayin Goodby.

Above The Clouds, with Dale Rogers at his head, after winning the 1988 Louisiana-Bred Quarter Horse Futurity at Delta Downs.

Rogers owned Whathaveigottado, who became a successful stallion producing Igotarampage and Rogers’ top earner, Im For Real. The striking gray filly, trained by Josue Huitron, won the 2018 Lassie Futurity (RG2) and has banked $262,912 in 12 career starts.

Rogers daughter, Della Godfrey, shared a story of traveling to Ruidoso Downs with Rogers, his wife Sharon, and another daughter, Kelly Dupont, to attend the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

“Daddy was an incredible judge of horseflesh,” she said. “He always believed, that in addition to their breeding, they had to have heart. There was a horse he really wanted to bid on and visited him in the barn before the sale; looked him up very carefully and grabbed his seat hoping to make a winning bid. The yearling sold for $450,000, which was way over what he was prepared to spend, but that just gives an example of his eye for great horses!”

Dale Rogers accepts the LQHBA Lassie Futurity(RG2) stakes trophy following Im For Reals victory.
© Coady Photography

Rogers is a lifetime member of the American Angus Association and the Duroc Hog Association. He will celebrate his 90th birthday on December 11 and is the proud father of 12 children, including LQHBA board member, Tim Rogers.

Although not born here, Dale Rogers, with love for life and his passion for breeding and racing horses is a true Louisiana treasure!