The American Quarter Horse Journal, May 5, 2008 -- Jerry Wells, who showed American Quarter Horses to 61 AQHA world championships, died May 3.
An all-around horseman, Wells, 67, was known primarily for showing halter horses, but in 1997 won a reserve world championship in tie-down roping with Zans Misty Skip and also won a world championship in racing with Merganser.
Born November 9, 1940 in Sulphur, Oklahoma, to L.V. and Leona Wells, he grew up on a dairy farm near Sulphur, Oklahoma, and as a young man apprenticed under Matlock Rose and George Tyler. Beginning with Otoe, the first AAA-rated racehorse to be a grand champion, and Kid Meyers, the first AQHA Supreme Champion, Wells went on to claim world championships at halter with Conclusive, The Invester, Boston Mac and Te N Te, among many others.In 1971, Wells and wife Betty established their first ranch on 140 acres near Purcell, Oklahoma. Seven years later, Jerry Wells Quarter Horses conducted its first sale, in partnership with Carol Harris of Reddick, Florida. Four years after that, Wells sold that ranch and returned to Sulphur, where he stood Cluition and Perpetualism. While there, Wells also purchased the Duck Dance (TB) colt Merganser, a $1,373,704 earner with whom he and Ron Shalz won four stakes, including the 1988 All American Futurity (G1), to be that year’s world champion. In 1998, Wells moved his operation to Wayne, Oklahoma, and returned a few years ago to Purcell.
In addition to those already mentioned, horses associated with Wells include Conclusive, Man In Command, Three Chicks, Windchester, Sonny Go Lucky, Impressive Five, Red Sonny Dee and Ima Cool Skip.
A lifelong member of the American Quarter Horse Association, Wells was presented the Professional Horseman Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s AQHA Convention in San Francisco and was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007.
Wells and his wife were married 43 years. Together, they had daughter Nancy Wells Barr of Ada, Oklahoma, and son Marty Wells of San Juan Capistrano, California. The couple has two grandchildren, Brendon and Brittney Barr, and numerous nieces and nephews. Wells also has younger brothers Jerold and Joe of Sulphur, Oklahoma, and Jim of Lexington, Kentucky.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m.,Wednesday, May 7, in the First Baptist Church of Sulphur, Oklahoma. Viewing is 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman today and tomorrow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Jerry Wells Memorial Youth Scholarship fund, care of First American Bank & Trust, attention Tom Cooper, 570 24th Ave. NW, Norman, OK 73069.
INDUSTRY MOURNS A LEGENDARY HORSEMAN
