Ted Wells Jr.

1924 - 2011

Ted Wells, Jr., a resident of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, passed away at his home September 16, 2011, at the age of 87.
Wells was a member of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and the Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame. He served as president of the Oklahoma Horseman's Assn. for two terms, and was also president of the Senior Pro Rodeo Assn. for two terms. Ted served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Assn. as well as the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Assn.
As a young man, Wells served on the committee which initiated the first Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping. After his service in World War II, Wells became one of the nation's foremost trainers of racing Quarter Horses. In 1965 he conditioned Savannah Jr. to win the Oklahoma Futurity, the Sunland Park Futurity and the All American Futurity. He campaigned Savannah Jr. to honors as World Champion Two Year Old Colt of 1965 and World Champion Three Year Old Colt of 1966. Wells won the Oklahoma Futurity three times, twice as a trainer and once as an owner.

Wells retired from the racetrack in 1968 and established breeding farms, first in Texas, then in his native Oklahoma. By the early 1970s, Wells Ranch was among the leading stud farms in the nation, propelled by such stallions as Azure Te, Easy Six and Savannah Jr.
Shortly after he dispersed his bloodstock in 1986, Ted Wells purchased a cattle ranch in Osage County, near Pawhuska, his childhood home. There he became an avid steer roper, an activity which he enjoyed until age 81.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Vicki; son Jay Wilson and grandsons Zak Wells Wilson and Bryce Garet Wilson; daughter Tina Hagan and grandsons Tyeler, Trey, and Tim Hagan; as well as his children from his first marriage, Terry Wells, Sharon Doyle, and Scott Wells. He is also survived by his brother, Don Wells, and his sister, Betty McKinley, both of Pawhuska.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, September 21, 2:00 PM, at the First Presbyterian Church of Pawhuska. Brother Brian Long will officiate, assisted by Pastor Ken Woodham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "Gospel for Asia" or "Race Track Chaplaincy of America", c/o McCartney's Johnson Funeral Home, PO Box 63, Pawhuska, OK 74056.