Category: Bill Langford

Obituary: William Charles Langford Jr.

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William (Bill) Charles Langford, Jr., 77, died on Friday, May 28, 2021, in Lafayette after a fierce battle with brain cancer.

Bill was born in Waycross, GA on December 16, 1943. He graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina and went on to serve in the Army in Vietnam. He was married to his bride Mary for nearly 50 years. She, their children, and grandchildren meant everything to him. After retiring from the oil industry, Bill moved to his sanctuary at Cherokee Ridge Horse Farm in Carencro, LA with his wife Mary. His love for nature and animals, especially his dogs and horses, flourished there. It became a healing place for him and resulted in a passion for him and his horses to hold space so that others might do the same. At his core, Bill was a man after God’s own heart. His faith in Jesus was life changing and deeply important to him. Bill’s favorite things included hanging out with the people he loved, doing equine therapy with kids and other veterans, riding around in his gator with his grandkids, cutting hay, laughing, telling stories, eating good food, and drinking red wine. He leaves a legacy of kindness, generosity, humor, and love. Bill lived a mighty and beautiful life. We are all better for having known him.

Bill is survived by his wife Mary Blum Langford; his son and daughter-in-law Josh and Jenny Langford and their children Will, Kyra, Ethan, Jack, Zoe, Caleb, and Sofia; his daughter Carrie Langford Begnaud and her children Elias, Deacon, and Forest; his daughter Dana Langford and her children Liam and Stella as well as their father John Bennett. He is also survived by his brother Hal Langford.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents William (Bill) and Sarah Langford, Sr., his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and one grandchild.

Throughout his life, people were drawn to Bill for his uniquely genuine heart. He saw and heard them, met them where they were and cared about them, only wanting the best for them.

To honor Bill’s wishes, his family is not having a memorial service. Bill had a huge heart for the people of Haiti, in particular the people of Picot Church. He and Mary loved their Haitian family and were blessed to travel there many times over the past 19 years.

Donations in Bill’s name can be made through Reciprocal Ministries International at www.rmibridge.org in care of Picot Church in Haiti.

Online obituary and guestbook may be viewed at www.CypressFunerals.Com

Lone Star Special Moving to Cherokee Ridge Farm in Carencro

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lone-star-special-copyAfter standing at The Horse Of Course in Benton Louisiana since 2016, Lone Star Special is moving to Cherokee Ridge Farm in Carencro for the 2019 breeding season in order to be more centrally located for Louisiana Breeders.

Lone Star Special (Malabar Gold-Sunshine Special) is an Unbridled line stallion who is among an elite number of stallions that moves his mare up. Only 32 % of all sires have a lifetime AEI higher than their mares CI. Lone Star Special has an AEI of 1.49 vs his mare’s CI of 1.11. His statistics of 66% winners, $71,209 average earnings per starter, 16% blacktype horses and 17% two-year-old winners, compete with leading national sires.

Lone Star Special is the sire of two Graded Stakes horses, both accredited Louisiana-breds.

Recently retired to the breeding shied, G2 Super Derby winner Mobile Bay ran from ages three to six, hitting the board in 21 of 29 lifetime starts. He won eleven stakes, often showing speed in route races of 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 miles, including the G2 Super Derby, open company stakes such as the Sunland Park Handicap, the Maxxam Gold Cup and the Zia Park Derby, as well Louisiana Bred Stakes including the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at the Fair Grounds twice.  He placed in another five stakes including the G3 Oklahoma Derby. His Lifetime earnings of $1,246,440 rank him 4th among all-time Leading Accredited Louisiana Bred Runners. A multiple Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion, Mobile Bay was named 2015 3YO Colt or Gelding and Horse of the Year, 2016 Older Male and Horse of the Year, and 2017 Older Male.

Multiple stakes winner, Wheatfield ran 2nd in the ’17 G2 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream. She was named 2016 4YO & Up Louisiana Bred Champion Filly or Mare. She has earned black type in 11 stakes events, many against open company, and currently has $391,603 in lifetime earnings.

While changing locations to Bill Langford’s Cherokee Ridge Farm in Carencro, Lone Star Special’s 2019 fee will remain reasonable at $2,500 according to owner, Tigertail Ranch’s Irwin Olian. 

“From a very small group of foals, Lone Star Special has done remarkably well.  He has demonstrated the ability to throw runners capable of competing at the national level in Graded Stakes as well as other highly professional runners including four other stakes horses,” says Tigertail Ranch’s Irwin Olian. “His ability to move up his mares puts him in very rare company among Louisiana sires and suggests there will be a lot more good things to come from him in the future”

“We are grateful for the excellent work that John Doherty has done managing Lone Star Special in north Louisiana, but feel it is important to expose him to a broader group of mares in central and south Louisiana.  We are very excited about moving him to Cherokee Ridge Farm where he will be under the able management of Bill Langford. We hope Louisiana breeders will recognize the unique opportunity that Lone Star Special represents to get a top class racehorse and support him as he deserves.”