Tennessee Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame 2015 | Inductee #6

Cliff Keesee | Bluff City, Tennessee

AQHA Director, TQHA President 1983-1984 - Master Breeder, Showman, Judge & Horseman

Cliff Keesee was Tennessee’s most complete professional horseman. He was nationally recognized for his expertise in breeding, judging, and showing. He bred, raised, and showed Quarter Horses, Paint Horses, and Appaloosa Horses to many Futurity and World Championships.

He made famous his favorite horse “Nicky Skip,” who was an Honor Roll Champion and a sire of champions. Cliff held judges' cards for AQHA, NCHA, PBAA, AHSA, NSBA, and Appaloosa Horse Club. He judged AQHA shows from 1973-2006, including the major World Shows and Congress, as well as judging in six foreign countries.

Cliff was elected AQHA Director in 1975 and was elevated to Director at Large in 1996. He served on the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee, the Hall of Fame Committee, and the Judges Committee. Some of his proudest moments came when he was the TQHA Youth Director. He served as President of TQHA in 1983-84 and drove the TQHA Futurity for several years while it was enjoying its greatest numbers.

TQHA is proud to induct Cliff Keesee into the Hall of Fame.