2023 Nebraska Hall of Fame Inductees
Bill Coffee
Bill Coffee was born in Chadron, Nebraska and raised on the historic Hat Creek ranch, in Harrison, Nebraska in 1922.
Realizing the quality and useability of the QH’s, Bill started using them on the ranch in the 1940’s and eventually purchased the stallion, Buckskin Moccasin. In 1949 he purchased another stallion, Toad. He was the first horse to stand grand at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition. His offspring accumulated over 280 AQHA points.
Bill studied the QH bloodlines and purchased mares from the finest sires to breed to his stallions. During the 1950’s and 1960’s Coffee horses won recognition at shows in Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and throughout the region.
Then it all finished in a flash. In 1965 a bolt of lightening struck the herd of Bill’s prized mares and stallion, Shasta Lad, ending his 25-year success story of genetics, conformation, speed, agility and cow sense. The horses were all lying along the fence, head to tail, and it broke Bill’s heart. After that, the remaining mares and stallions were sold and only geldings remained.
His quest for a better ranch horses came out of the need for a horse that could get the job done-a partner that was intelligent, had cow sense and explosive speed. He influenced forever the quality of horses used by ranchers in the area. Bills priority was raising the best cow horses for the ranch.
Articles about Bill, his horses and the ranch were featured in the Eastern/Western Quarter Horse Journal and the Quarter Horse Journal. His grandfather, C.F. Coffee is in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
A few of Bill’s accomplishments and contributions to the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association include:
• Founding member of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association and was multi-year President of the Association
• AQHA Judge
• Director of NQHA
• AQHA National Director
Bill passed away in 2005, but his children and grandchildren still own and operate the ranches that have now been in the family over 150 years. They remain committed to carrying on Bill Coffee’s vision and stewardship.
The Nebraska Quarter Horse Association inducts Bill Coffee into the Hall of Fame.
Vickie Lee Pine
In 1974 the AQHA established the Open and Amateur World Show. It was 4 days long and held in Lexington, KY.
By 1978 the World Show had moved to Oklahoma City and the Superhorse Award was created. In order to be considered for the Superhorse Award a horse must be nationally qualified, entered and shown in at least 3 classes in at least 3 categories.
The winner of that very first Superhorse Award was Vickie Lee Pine who was Nebraska bred, owned and shown.
She was foaled in 1974 and was bred by Lloyd Geweke. She was by Two Eyed Jack, who is an AQHA and Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame horse, and out of Poco Coed, who was by Poco Pine. She was purchased by Howard Pitzer, who is also in the AQHA and Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame. And a young Jim Brinkman showed the mare at the World Show.
At the 1978 World Show she was 6th in the Aged Mares, 3rd in the Jr Heeling and Reserve World Champion in the Jr Heading.
The award was sponsored by Copenhagen/Skoal tobacco products and Jim received a cooler for winning.
Vickie Lee Pine was also an AQHA Champion, earned a Superior in Halter (with 237 halter points and 156 wins from 178 times shown) and also earned points in the Tie-down roping and Western Pleasure. In 1978 she was the Youth Reserve World Champion aged mare and in 1979 was the Youth World Champion in aged mares.
She had 5 foals who earned 2 AQHA Register of Merit Awards.
For being the first AQHA World Show Superhorse, Vickie Lee Pine is inducted into the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame.
2022 Nebraska Hall of Fame Inductees
Gene Graves
Gene Graves was raised on a farm outside of tiny Clarks, Nebraska. He graduated from Clarks High School in 1955, earned a degree in education from Midland College in 1959 and in 1969 earned a master of science from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. In 1963 he married Barbara Bosselman, from Grand Island. Barbara’s father founded the Bosselman and Eaton truck stop and café, which became the Bosselman Truck Plazas throughout Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. In 1975 Gene joined the Pump & Pantry subsidiary of the business as president and grew the division to more than 30 stores.
Gene and Barbara, and their children, Bryan and Cindy, all showed at AQHA shows beginning in the 1980’s. The Graves also bred and raised foals on their ranch in Burwell, Nebraska and were involved in many facets of the industry, from showing to racing and ranching.
It was his commitment to improving the AQHA and industry that led Gene to the leadership of AQHA and the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association. Gene was past president of the NQHA and was elected an AQHA National Director in 2000.
As avid supporters of the AQHA Select World Show, Barb and Gene were instrumental in the development of the show. Gene was especially impressed by the exhibitors who were 70 years and older and thought they needed a special all-around award.
Beginning at the 2012 AQHA Select World Show, the Gene Graves Super-Select Special Recognition Award was given to the exhibitor, age 70 or older, who earned the greatest number of points in competition at the show.
Gene Graves was elected AQHA President in 2012. His number-one objective was engaging members and getting them involved with AQHA. He told the AQHA Board of Directors after his election as president, “Members need to have a voice in their Association and know they can provide feedback to the Association, including face-to-face with the AQHA Executive Committee and staff.”
Gene combined his business acumen, his love of the Quarter Horse and his ability to talk to all members and was a much beloved AQHA president.
Gene lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in June 2013, just a few months after concluding his AQHA presidency. He and Barbara had been married for fifty years.
Gene was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2018.
The Invester
The Invester started life with the name, Hank Lou Bars.
He was bred by Eldon England, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and foaled in 1969. He was a son of Zippo Pat Bars and out of the mare, Hank’s Peppy Lou, by Dinky Reed. When AQHA Hall of Famer, Jerry Wells, purchased the red colt at the Oklahoma State Fair, he changed his name to The Invester, thinking the colt might bring a nice return on his investment.
As a show horse, The Invester earned an AQHA Champion and Superior award in Halter. In western pleasure, hunter under saddle, cutting and reining, he earned a total of 21 points, in addition to winning almost $12,000 in the National Cutting Horse Association.
It was as a sire that The Invester made his mark in the industry.
In 1973 Jack Benson bought the young stallion and he and trainer, Brad McCamy, syndicated and promoted him to an AQHA Leading Sire. The Invester’s natural movement, style and grace led him to become a modern-day foundation sire for the western pleasure horse. In 1980, six of The Invester’s foals were entered in the All American Quarter Horse Congress Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure Futurity, with four of the six taking the top four spots.
Jack Benson tragically died in a car accident in 1989. Dan and Carol McWhirter, along with partner Wayne Atchley, Elkhorn, Nebraska purchased him for their breeding program and early in 1990 The Invester moved to the McWhirter’s farm in Doniphan, Nebraska.
Often referred to as “The Chairman of the Board,” The Invester sired 1,166 foals, with 558 of the performers earning over 26,944 AQHA points, 16 AQHA Champions, a Youth Supreme Champion, 152 Superior awards and 357 Register of Merit awards.
The Invester’s offspring include AQHA World or Reserve World Champions in Halter, Western Pleasure, Western Riding and Trail including Impulsions, an exceptional performer that was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Invester’s get is a “who’s-who” of horses in the western pleasure events. Some of his most famous offspring include the horses: The Big Investment, Absolute Investment, Assets, Invest In Ears, Fully Vested, Investapine, Interest Only, Vested Pine and Miss Gold Invested. In addition, his daughters were excellent producers and their progeny includes: Chipped in Chocolate, Good As It Gets, Goodbars Wrapper, Invited By The Lady, Huntin For Money and many others.
Because of his impact on the western pleasure industry, The Invester was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Hall of Fame in 1994 and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 2002 The Invester was laid to rest at the McWhirter’s farm in Doniphan, Nebraska at 33 years of age.
2021 Nebraska Hall of Fame Inductees
Stan and Mary Kay Steyskal
Stan and Mary Kay Steyskal, of Papillion, Nebraska, have been breeding some of the finest American Quarter Horses in the world since the 1960’s.
When rodeo rider, Stan, met Mary Kay, she was riding pleasure horses and barrel racing. Together they developed a breeding program that combined their talents and passion for great horses. A lifetime of dedication to improving the breed resulted in Stan and Mary Kay being on the list of AQHA Leading Breeders since 1987 and on the all-time Leading Breeder list of AQHA Register of Merit performance horses.
Their program focused on combing great pedigrees, great confirmation, soundness, athletic ability and disposition. They have produced numerous winners in AQHA, APHA, NCHA, and PHBA, as well as World and Congress Champions and Reserve Champions. The Steyskals raised the great horses: Good Version, Natural Iron, Son Of A Rebel, Stylish Iron, Crimson Iron, Lonsum Tiger, Good Miss Molly, Mr Gold Invested, Miss Gold Invested, Investment Stinger, Trace Of Goodbar, Tina Tiger Leo, Bill Tiger Leo and many, many more.
The stallions that were the heart of their breeding program were Iron Rebel and Tiger Leo. Iron Rebel was an AQHA Champion and Superior Western Pleasure horse and sire of earners with over 7,900 points, 95 ROM’s and 37 Superior awards. Tiger Leo was an AQHA Champion, earned a AAA-rating on the racetrack, and was the sire of earners with over 5,900 points and multiple Superiors award winners. Tiger Leo was inducted into the NSBA Hall of Fame in 1995, the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
However, the Steyskals are also recognized for having great broodmares and perpetuating great “mare families.” Their mare, Kiowa’s Diana, was the dam or granddam of horses that were named an NCHA Reserve World Champion cutting horse, a Congress Pleasure Futurity winner, an AQHA Champion and an AQHA High-point Hunter under Saddle winner. Her offspring also earned over 2000 AQHA points
Mary Kay explained, “In the back of your mind, you have to remember that good confirmation delivers good performance. We must continue to emphasize correct confirmation, athletic ability and a willing mind to do that.” She went on to add, “You have to have a vision and raise horses that satisfy you first, and hopefully they will satisfy someone else, too.”
For their contributions to the horse industry Stan and Mary Kay Steyskal were awarded the 2001 Jack Benson Award by the National Snaffle Bit Association.
Tiger Leo
Tiger Leo was bred by AQHA Hall of Fame horseman, Bud Warren, of Perry, Oklahoma. The flashy sorrel horse was foaled in June 1958 and was sired by AQHA Hall of Fame stallion, Leo and out of the thoroughbred mare, Connie. As a weanling, he was acquired by Walt Chamberlain of Walsenburg, Colorado. Chamberlain sent Tiger Leo to the race track starting in 1961 where he went on to earn a AAA-rating.
In 1965 Tiger Leo was sent to Nebraska cowboy and trainer, Stan Steyskal. By August of 1966, Steyskal had shown the horse to his AQHA Champion; earning points in cutting, reining and halter. The Steyskals started breeding their mares to Tiger Leo and by 1973 had formed a syndicate to purchase the stallion. He became the cornerstone of their breeding operation and by 1987 they were on the AQHA list of leading breeders, where they remained for more than three decades.
As a sire, Tiger Leo, was extremely versatile, siring 482 registered foals from 24 crops. There are eleven AQHA Champions sired by Tiger Leo. His get earned over 5,940 points, with AQHA Superiors in halter, western pleasure, hunter under saddle, hunter hack, hunt seat equitation, showmanship, horsemanship, trail and barrel racing. He also sired winners on the racetrack. His foals were money earners at the AQHA World Show and in competitions in the National Cutting Horse Association, National Snaffle Bit Association and the National Reining Horse Association.
He also excelled as a broodmare sire, where his daughters have produced more than 270 AQHA point-earners that amassed over 21,500 points.
Tiger Leo was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2019.
Tiger Leo was laid to rest in 1986.
2019-2020 Nebraska Hall of Fame Inductees
Rich Fortner
Rich Fortner got his first AQHA registered horse in 1963.
Since that time, he has loved and served the AQHA and the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association.
Fortner served on the NQHA Board of Directors for many years as Vice President, District Director and Youth Advisor, as well as an active member of several committees. He was also Co-Director of the AKSARBEN Silver Classic horse show.
He served on the AQHA Youth Committee for over five years.
In 1993 he was named the AQHA Youth Advisor of the Year.
Fortner was awarded one of the highest honors from AQHA in 2000: The Merle Wood Humanitarian Award. The award is given to the individual who “exemplifies an ethic of kindness and benevolence in providing opportunities for all young people to be involved with the American Quarter Horse.”
Fortner’s other accolades include being recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from the Nebraska Association of Extension Boards and the Lancaster County Outstanding Neighbor Award.
He raised funds to help build the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Walk of Fame that was first located at the Nebraska State Fair and then moved to the Lancaster Events Center.
Rich and his wife, Katie, reside in Davey, Nebraska. The family also includes daughter Courtney and her husband Jamie Peterson and their son, Carter Peterson.
Jan Greenland
Jan Greenland began her career with the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association by computerizing the 1984 Nebraska Quarter Horse Futurity.
In 1985 the Board of Directors of NQHA contracted Jan for the executive position of Secretary and Treasurer.
Jan became an officer of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Breeders Futurity as it grew into the Nebraska Silver Classic, a 5-day event at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha. She was a NQHA Director and NQHA Amateur Association officer. In 1989 Jan represented NQHA when it was awarded the American Quarter Horse Association Affiliate of the Year Award.
Jan always kept a show horse or two at her farm in Hastings, Nebraska and showed them in a dozen states and Canada, too. She won many award saddles and placed at the AQHA Select World Show. She qualified 25 straight years for the AQHA World Championship Shows.
On the first day of the eligibility for the AQHA Select Division, January 1, 1997, Jan earned Select points.
The horses Jan showed earned AQHA Superior Awards in classes ranging from trail to ranch riding to hunter under saddle.
When asked what she thought was the best part of showing horses, Jan said, "The horses I have shown have been great companions. Even more than that, the very best part of NQHA and AQHA is all the camaraderie. I have made many lifelong friendships at horse shows."
Zippo Pine Bar
Zippo Pine Bar was one of the most prolific sires in American Quarter Horse history.
Zippo Pine Bar was bred by Lloyd Geweke of Ord, Nebraska
Foaled on April 25, 1969, he was sired by Zippo Pat Bars, a son of Three Bars (TB) and a grandson of Leo. His dam, Dollie Pine, was an AQHA Champion by AQHA Champion, Poco Pine.
Norman Reynolds, of Lexington, Nebraska, purchased the weanling Zippo Pine Bar on September 13, 1969 at Geweke’s dispersal sale.
In 1972 Zippo Pine Bar earned his AQHA Champion title. He was trained and shown by Bill Keyser of Ord, Nebraska. He earned over 100 performance points, 33 halter points, 11 grand champion titles, 19 reserve champion titles and a Superior in western pleasure.
In 1985, Zippo was sold to Bob and Ann Perry, where he continued his true legacy as a sire. His ability to pass on his quiet disposition became a desirable trait. He sired over 1650 offspring who earned 13 AQHA Champions, 23 world champions, 38 reserve world champions and over 87,800 points.
Some of his notable get include Zipabull, the 1990 AQHA Superhorse; Zips Chocolate Chip; Zippo Ltd; and Zippos Dew Claw. He bred his last two mares in 1997 at the age of 28.
Zippo Pine Bar was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Hall of Fame in 1992 and in 2000, his first year of eligibility, into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
After suffering a stroke in January 1998, Zippo Pine Bar was euthanized at the age of 29.
2018 Nebraska Hall of Fame Inductees
Waldo Haythorn
Waldo Haythorn was born March 25, 1917 at the Haythorn home ranch.
He graduated from St. John’s Military Academy in Salina, Kansas in 1936. After graduation he entered the Colorado State University veterinary program, but discontinued his education to return to Nebraska and ranch with his father, Walt.
In 1941 he joined the service and was placed in the civilian pilot training program, where he trained pilots for the Army and Navy.
On September 14, 1943, Haythorn married Beldora Cochran, who often claimed their honeymoon was a horse buying trip. The Haythorn’s two children, Craig and Sally, were raised on the ranch.
The Haythorn Land and Cattle Company ranch near Ogallala, Nebraska has produced quality ranch horses for more than seventy-five years. Waldo and his father registered the first Quarter Horse in Nebraska.
In 1992, the ranch received the first American Quarter Horse Association Best Remuda Award, and at one time registered the most AQHA horses in the country.
The ranch was presented with the AQHA Legacy Award in 1997 for fifty consecutive years of breeding American Quarter Horses.
Haythorn was a Quarter Horse breeder, speaker and judge. He conducted seminars all over the world for the benefit and advocacy of AQHA and the American Quarter Horse. He was also an original member of the Cowboys Turtle Association, now known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Waldo Haythorn was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2002 and passed away that year on July 26th.
Howard Pitzer
Howard Pitzer has always been recognized as one of the foremost breeders of American Quarter Horses. His attitude and knowledge about the breeding business earned him the respect and admiration of everyone who did business with the Ericson, Nebraska rancher. Pitzer bred over 75 AQHA Champions and multiple AQHA world champions, high-point winners, all-around winners and Register of Merit earners. Additionally, foals bred by him have earned over 28,000 points in AQHA competition.
In 1956 Pitzer bought his first stallion, Pat Star Jr, and started breeding his own horses. In 1964 he purchased Two Eyed Jack, the horse that made Pitzer legendary. Together the two became icons in the Quarter Horse industry.
Pitzer was an AQHA Director from 1980-1984 and in 1985 was named an AQHA Honorary Vice President. He served on the AQHA show and contest committee from 1977-1992.
He was a past president of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association.
Pitzer was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1996. Two Eyed Jack was also inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1996.
Pitzer died in 1998, leaving a legacy of breeding some of the best horses in AQHA history.
Two Eyed Jack
Two Eyed Jack was a sorrel stallion foaled in Illinois in 1961 and bred by H.H. Mass. His sire was Two D Two, a descendant of Old Sorrel and his dam was Triangle Tookie, a daughter of Grey Badger III.
In 1964 the horse was purchased by Howard Pitzer of Ericson, Nebraska and the two became so closely connected that you can’t say one name without the other.
Two Eyed Jack began his show career as a yearling and was undefeated at halter. He continued his winning ways until 1979 having amassed over 200 halter points and 70 grand champions. He earned performance points in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, reining, working cow horse and western riding. He was an AQHA Champion and earned a Superior in Halter and an Open Performance Register of Merit.
However, his true achievement was as a sire. His get have earned over 37,000 AQHA points and over 190 Superior awards. In addition, he sired over 30 AQHA world or reserve world champions and three AQHA Youth Supreme Champions. He is the sire of an astonishing 119 Open AQHA Champions and an additional 30 Youth Champions.
Vicki Lee Pine, the first AQHA Superhorse, was sired by Two Eyed Jack. Some of his most famous get include, Watch Joe Jack, Two Eyed Donna, Two Jack Two and Two ID Bartender.
Two Eyed Jack was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1996. Howard Pitzer was also inducted that year.
Two Eyed Jack was euthanized March 2, 1991 due to old age.