2023 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
RUSSELL KLEINPETER, JR
Russell and his wife Toni took over the breeding program from his father C. Russell Kleinpeter upon his passing. CRK Farms became Kleinpeter Quarter Horses and had early success with Kings Copy, an own son of King P234. They added more stallions over the years, but the daughters of Kings Copy were the foundation of their breeding program.
Russell served as president of LQHBA and was on numerous committees for AQHA. He has been an AQHA Director for many years and in 2003 was elevated to the position of Director at Large and then to Director Emeritus.
Russell’s family played an important part in Kleinpeter Quarter Horses, his children, daughter in law and grandchildren all showed and he and his wife were always there to cheer them on.
Sadly, Russell lost his wife in 2010. He lives in St. Francisville where he watches over the next generation develop their love of the Quarter Horse.
2021 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Lloyd “Red” Benoit
Red was born in Lafayette, grew up in New Orleans and moved to St. Tammany Parish by way of working as a policeman and fireman. That wasn’t what he wanted, so he moved and made training and showing quarter horses his full- time job. With a beautiful farm on Old Military Road, he and his wife Brenda raised 2 children, Lorie and Lloyd, Jr. who followed him in the training business.
Among the prize-winning horses Red has raised and shown are Sandy Girl Cash who produced two foals Page Boy Cash and Page Boy Pearl, AQHA Congress and World Show winners. He also stood the great AQHA/palomino stallion Shinning Spark. Red’s reputation as a fine horseman and fine person has kept him in good standing as Past President of LQHA and an AQHA Director Emeritus along being LQHA Director Emeritus. Anything that was needed, Red was there to help. Red still rides every day and loves to watch his grand-children play ball.
Harry Knight, a native Louisianan, was one of LQHA's founding members. He breeds and shows his own horses in halter and has won many World Championships. Harry is an AQHA Director Emeritus and currently serves on the Nominations and Credentials committee. He and his wife Julie love to travel and spend time on the road visiting their grandkids. He is also an avid hunter.
Gilbert was born in Corpus Christi, Tx. but made Louisiana his permanent home. Gilbert was married to Della, his wife of 41 years and they had 2 children, Gilbert Jr., and Amanda. Gilbert took his children to shows where they both participated in AQHA youth halter classes. As his children moved on to other things he and his wife took over the horses. Gilbert was an avid horseman and he loved to show halter, where he excelled. He won many Superior awards and placed at the AQHA world shows. Gilbert was President of LQHA and was a newly elected AQHA Director at his untimely passing. (June 21, 2020)
2020 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
CALVIN ODELL "C.O." MCKERLEY
In 1924, C.O. was born in Miller, Oklahoma, where he worked for the Louisiana State University to head up the youth organization with livestock, also starting the 4-H program in Lake Charles. Due to the program he headed in Louisiana, Mr. Dave Perkins, then President of AQHA, asked him if he could set up a similar program for AQHA...thus the AQHYA was born. C.O. headed up the first Youth World Show in Dallas, TX. He was a judge for 16 years, an honorary AQHA Vice President and in 2000 he was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2012 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.
One of the few AQHA Supreme Champions, Wonder Seeker was sired by Otoe's Wonder and out of a mare named Sorrel Seeker. A 1970 red dun stallion, He made his mark on the race track and the show pen, earning points in Racing, Halter, Hunter Under Saddle, Tie Down Roping, Trail, Western Pleasure and Roping. He stood at A & I Stallion Station in Covington from 1977 until his death in 1994. He sired 413 foals who also excelled in the show pen. He was owned by Dr. James and Linda Biermann.
In 1990, Carlton Leger became one of the founding members of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association and the Louisiana Quarter Horse Youth Association. He served as President of the organization and continues to be a member today. Throughout his show career, Mr. Leger has amassed numerous accolades including breeding and raising multiple world and reserve world champions. Some of his favorite memories stem from loading the motor home to travel to the AQHYA World Show to watch his grandchildren show.
Lightning Bar Jr was bred and owned by Mr. Robert “Sonny” Harris of Bunkie, La., who was the oldest member of LQHA before passing away in 2021 at the age of 100. Lightnin Bar Jr. had a superior in halter and produced a total of 481 foals. His get earned a total of 570 halter points, 298 performance points, 2 AQHA Champions along with 92 race starters earning a total of $179,212.
Do you know of a horse or person worthy of being recognized in the LQHA Hall of Fame?
