Legendary horseman Jerry Wells died on May 3. A wonderful tribute to Jerry, lots of photos, and memorial scholarship information can be found at www.jerrywellsquarterhorses.com.

In 1981 Jerry became my very first catalog customer, other than the Whitmans whom I worked for at the time. Not only did Jerry take a chance on a 23-year-old barn hand, but he treated me with the same kind respect that he always bestowed on all, be it human or animal.

Jerry apprenticed under Matlock Rose and George Tyler, and was a horseman in the true, and increasingly rare, sense of the word. He won 61 AQHA World Championships - but if you think he was just a halter horse man, read on: he was also a Reserve World Champion Calf Roper, and the horses he was involved with included NCHA Derby Champion broodmare sire Otoe; all-time leading performance sire and NCHA World Champion broodmare sire The Invester; all-time leading performance sire and broodmare sire Boston Mac; the first AQHA Supreme Champion Kid Meyers; and the great sires Te N' Te and Conclusive, who both had an extreme influence on today's performance industry. He also raced World Champion Merganser, among numerous stakes winners, and the Wells family continues to raise and campaign many top barrel horses. Yes, Jerry had the eye for a winning halter horse, and he could fit one like no other. But his first love was the true ideal Quarter Horse.

Sadly, Jerry was keenly aware that he would probably also be remembered for the one serious mistake he made, which caused his temporary suspension from the AQHA; a mistake that emanated from an AQHA rule that doesn't even exist anymore. Unlike many, he owned up to it immediately and even helped with the AQHA's investigation, never turning his back on his beloved association. But personally he suffered immensely. He never forgave himself, never got over it and in my view, ultimately paid with his shortened life.

Long after they "needed to," the Wells' have remained active supporters of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association and of course the AQHA itself. I remember Jerry's wife (of 45 years) Betty, on her feet all day with her ankle in a cast, running the gate at the 5-day Redbud Classic. I saw Jerry show in the calf roping several years ago at the Oklahoma State Fair, thin and weak from battling cancer even then, roping simply because he loved it. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007 and named Oklahoma Professional Horseman of the Year, and in 2008 received the AQHA's Professional Horseman Lifetime Achievement award.

Jerry Wells has been nominated to the AQHA Hall of Fame and in my opinion, he belongs there. I believe if the AQHA membership were polled, results would overwhelmingly favor inducting Jerry into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2010. If you agree, please voice that by sending a letter stating "I believe Jerry Wells belongs in the AQHA Hall of Fame" and addressing it to: AQHA Hall of Fame Committee Chairman, c/o AQHA, P.O. Box 200, Amarillo, TX 79168. Including your AQHA name and membership number will further validate your effort.