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Leland "Lee" Warne
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Pioneer breeder Leland "Lee" Warne, 80, long time Sully County rancher and former member of the South Dakota Legislature, died in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Friday March 8, 2002. |
In addition to his Appaloosa accomplishments, Lee served on the local school board for 22 years and served for 21 years as a Sully County commissioner. In 1953 he was elected to the South Dakota Senate and was re-elected in 1955. He was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 1957. He was Republican National Committeeman in 1952 and a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1956.
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He was appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz to the first National Water Bank Advisory Board. He was appointed by Attorney General to the State Law Enforcement Officers Standard Commission to represent county commissioners. He also served as University of South Dakota alumni president and was co-chairman of the University Development Commission. |
The Warne ranch received awards, including Outstanding Conservation Unit of Sully County in 1972 and the South Dakota State Izaak Walton League award for outstanding wildlife habitat management in 1973.
| The 1950 stallion Bambi E. introduced Lee to the Appaloosa breed, in 1957 Appaloosa horses were introduced into the ranch operation. Lee went on to breed the Sully line of Appaloosas, named for Sully County, where Warne's Appaloosa Ranch is located. Lee produced five national champions in the United States as well as sales to Italy, Germany, Australia, Canada, Hawaii and Cyprus. Upon retirement in 1981, Lee and Helen moved their horse operation to a ranch west of Custer. |
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Lee was actively involved in
the appaloosa industry until his death, breeding
and raising Appaloosas such as Sully B, Sully's Lancer and Sully Rebel Star,
along with many other state, regional, and national champions. His horses were
known for their loud color, refined heads, quite disposition and athletic
prowess. The list of Warne-bred Appaloosas, numbering 624, completed
successfully in events as varied as cutting, reining, and halter.
Photo at left is Sullys Pattern
Lee helped establish the Center of the National Appaloosa regional club in 1961, putting the Appaloosa breed on the map at a time when the breed was relatively unknown in may parts of the country.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years. Helen Warne of Scottsdale, Arizona, his son Randy Warne and his wife Nora of Onida, his daughter, Nancy Kelley and her husband of Custer, his grandchildren, a great grandchild; and his brother, Maynard Warne and his wife Edyth of Custer. He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant children.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
We will miss being able to talk to this wonderful man. He was easy to talk with.
He felt our mare Sully Sunshine Jet was one of his best bred mares. He crossed her bloodline several times with Sully stock, and added the Top Deck line, and when he heard what was in Thunders pedigree, he was impressed, told us we should put him on a trailer and come out to visit him! Wish that we had been able to. He encouraged us to raise Appaloosas.
He was looking forward to seeing the photo's of the foal from the alliance of Twohawks Thunder and Sully's Sunshine Jet. He had told us that should be one mighty fine foal.
Mr. Warne will be greatly missed, but always remembered for his role in putting the Appaloosa breed on the map and his contributions to the promotion of the Appaloosas.
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