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'''Leverne Edward Perry''' (January 4, 1932 – March 27, 2016) was a businessman, [[television]] personality, public official, rodeo performer and promoter, and civic figure in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]].

'''Leverne Edward Perry''' (January 4, 1932 – March 27, 2016) was a businessman, [[television]] personality, public official, rodeo performer and promoter, and civic figure in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]].

The only child of Jesse Leverne Perry (1908-1993) and Goretha G. Perry (1912-2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Perry&GSfn=Goretha&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=38916237&df=all&|title=Goretha G. Perry|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref> Perry was born in rural Sieper in Rapides Parish west of Alexandria. An accomplished [[cowboy]], Perry traveled the [[rodeo]] circuit across the American South to [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]]. Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton, a long-time Perry friend, recalled that Perry pioneering the art of jumping off a horse on the left side, instead of the customary right side.<ref name=obit/>

The only child of Jesse Leverne Perry (1908-1993) and Goretha G. Perry (1912-2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Perry&GSfn=Goretha&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=38916237&df=all&|title=Goretha G. Perry|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref> Perry was born in rural Sieper in Rapides Parish west of Alexandria. An accomplished [[cowboy]], Perry traveled the rodeo circuit across the American South to [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]]. Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton, a long-time Perry friend, recalled that Perry pioneering the art of jumping off a horse on the left side, instead of the customary right side.<ref name=obit/>

From 1960 to 1966, he was host on KALB-TV, the [[NBC]] outlet in Alexandria, of the children's program, ''Leverne Perry and the Little Wranglers.'' He had a particular concern for special-needs children and founded the program "Horses and Handicaps." Through his role as president of the Amicus Club Rodeo, he was a fundraiser for St. Mary’s Residential Training School in Boyce, north of Alexandria. He owned Leverne Perry Shoes in Alexandria and served during the 1970s as a member and president of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the equivalent of the [[county commission]] in most other states.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/03/28/service-set-perry-champion-louisiana-quarter-horses/82347684/|title=Service set for Perry, champion for Louisiana quarter horses|author=Melissa Gregory|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref>

From 1960 to 1966, he was host on KALB-TV, the [[NBC]] outlet in Alexandria, of the children's program, ''Leverne Perry and the Little Wranglers.'' He had a particular concern for special-needs children and founded the program "Horses and Handicaps." Through his role as president of the Amicus Club Rodeo, he was a fundraiser for St. Mary’s Residential Training School in Boyce, north of Alexandria. He owned Leverne Perry Shoes in Alexandria and served during the 1970s as a member and president of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the equivalent of the county commission in most other states.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/03/28/service-set-perry-champion-louisiana-quarter-horses/82347684/|title=Service set for Perry, champion for Louisiana quarter horses|author=Melissa Gregory|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref>

From 1987 to 2014, Perry was the executive director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, in which capacity he was involved in the expansion of [[gambling]] at horse racetracks. He helped in the development of the strongest quarter horse bred in the nation. He was instrumental in youth scholarships. He was honored by the Louisiana Rodeo Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Association, which presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award. On April 9, 2016, Perry was posthumously inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=leverne-perry&pid=179416696&fhid=11989=|title=Leverne Perry obituary|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref>

From 1987 to 2014, Perry was the executive director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, in which capacity he was involved in the expansion of [[gambling]] at horse racetracks. He helped in the development of the strongest quarter horse bred in the nation. He was instrumental in youth scholarships. He was honored by the Louisiana Rodeo Hall of Fame and the American Quarter Horse Association, which presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award. On April 9, 2016, Perry was posthumously inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=leverne-perry&pid=179416696&fhid=11989=|title=Leverne Perry obituary|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref>