Leroy Bahner

Leroy 'Sonny' Bahner, 91, resident of Wharton County for 69 years, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2008.

He was born April 20, 1916 in Holman, Texas.

Sonny was an honor boy and won the math contest in the Colorado County meet when he was in the seventh grade. He was an organizer, charter member and director of the Gulf Coast Cutting Horse Association, a member, director and president of Wharton Quarter Horse Breeders, and an approved judge and member of the American Quarter Horse Association. Sonny was also an approved judge and member of the National Cutting Horse Association and an approved judge for both the American Paint Horse Association and the Appaloosa Horse Breeders Association.

Sonny has been associated with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a contestant, committee man or chairman since 1947. He was also a Life Member and an Honorary Lifetime Director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He was also a chairman of the Cutting and Cattle Committee for 6 years and chaired the registered cutting for 3 years under G.W. Townsand, chairman, of Bay City. He won numerous cuttings including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, premiums amounting to over 125 silver buckles plus saddles and various other tack.

Sonny won the last cutting he entered at the Townsand Ranch and the last roping he entered at the Janak arena in Columbus, Texas. This was a youth and old man's roping. His son David, and Kenny Ferguson, entered him unbeknownst to him. He was visiting and heard his name called to rope. He climbed on David's kid-saddled horse and won the roping competition.

Mr. Bahner managed the J.B. Ferguson Bar JF Farm and Cattle and Quarter Horse Ranch for 32 years. Here he was responsible for a breeding program of world champion Quarter Horses, both for performance and racing. He actively trained on the performance side and released the racing stock to specialized trainers. He was known far and wide in ranching and roping circles.

This lover of good food, pretty women and cutting the rug, grew up jerking sodas in the family confectionary in Weimar. Sonny married Lois Goodson of Columbus in 1936. He was a great daddy and a good man. He usually had a young protégé he helped in rodeo skills. Sonny loved kids.

He won the most improved Wharton bowler two years consecutively and good humouredly took ribbing about how bad a bowler he must have been. Sonny was a crack shot and avidly hunted coons, squirrels and deer. He had trophies proving the prowess of his several registered blue tick hounds which he bred, raised, hunted and sold.

Sonny was devoted to the Wharton County Youth Rodeo during its entire run and was an enthusiastic participant in the Wharton County Fair.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Goodson Bahner; his son, David Lane Bahner; his parents, Ferdinand 'Fred' Bahner and Wilhelmina Bittner Bahner; and a sister, Essie Lee B. Morales.

Survivors include his daughter, Linda B. Duncan and sonin law William Carl Duncan of Beaumont; daughter-inlaw, Edith Bahner-Kelly of New Waverly; granddaughter, Lauren Faggard of Beaumont; grandson, David Gregson Bahner of Huntsville; grandson in-law, A. Mark Faggard; great-granddaughter, Amanda Faggard; and aunt, Mary Bittner Luecke.

He joins a cadre of good friends and great people await him at the Hooking Bull Crossing: M.F. Montgomery, El Campo; Arty Bittner, El Campo; Fritz Garrett, Louise; Leon Locke, Wharton; Clem C. Boettcher, East Bernard; Heine Beken, Weimar; Ralph Watson, Houston; Dalla Horton, El Campo; Otis Polk, La Grange; Doug LaMond, Houston; Raymond Early of Wharton, Johnny Ferguson of Wharton and Forrest Damon of Wharton. Joining them he leaves a hole in our hearts.

If desiring, memorials may be sent to either The Wharton County Historical Museum, 3615 N. Richmond, Wharton, Texas 77488 or to The Heritage Society Museum of Weimar, Inc., 125 Main Street, Weimar, Texas 78962.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 1 at the Chapel of Wharton Funeral Home in Wharton with Ray Roberson officiating. Cowboy or casual attire requested.

Services are under the direction of the Wharton Funeral Home, 515 Boling Hwy, Wharton, Texas 77488.