Dick Hadley

George Richard "Dick" Hadley passed away on March 19, 2016. Dick was born in Oklahoma City to Marie (Welter) Hadley and George M. Hadley. He attended Putnam City High School where he was a captain of the basketball team. He graduated in 1948 and went to college at Central State University. Dick became a professional horse and pony trainer at the age of 18. He was a nationally recognized Saddlebred trainer and judge. He judged World Championship Shows for American Saddlebreds, Morgans, Arabians, Tennessee Walking Horses, Shetland Ponies and miniature horses. He showed and judged in all but three states, and judged all the major shows in Canada. He was also invited to judge in Anchorage, Alaska and Johannesburg, South Africa. Dick won many World Championship Titles with several horses, but he always had a special place in his heart for one, The Cock Robin, one of the world's greatest fine harness horses. He operated Had-Wel Stables at two different locations in Oklahoma City from 1948 until his retirement in 2010. Dick and Sallye began dating in 1966 and married in 1981. They had a great life together, traveling and going to horse shows, OU football games and watching OKC Thunder. Dick was an animal lover and raised many dogs with Sallye over the years. Dick was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia Marie Hadley-Clark, who was adopted when Dick was five years old. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sallye (Kesler) Hadley; daughters, Kim Jameson (Michael Boyl), Lezli Gibson (Steve), and Lisa Schneider (Bryan); five grandchildren, Justin Suiter (Sarah), Riki Lawson, Cori Hughes (Jeremy), Tyler Lawson (Mari) and Shane Cox; four great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Eva "Hebe" Geyer and Sarah M. Kesler; several nieces, nephews and many good friends. Memorial service will be Friday, April 1, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Smith & Kernke N. May Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.