Six Fortunes Breeder Sam Wallace Rankin Dies at 88

Sam W. Rankin of Hideaway, Texas, breeder of champion Quarter Horse Six Fortunes and a former co-owner of Evangeline Downs, died peacefully September 15 surrounded by his family. He was 88.

Born May 24, 1938, in Gladewater, Texas, Rankin spent his youth in the East Texas oil community before serving in the Army Reserves. The values he learned in his hometown—hard work, integrity and personal responsibility—remained central throughout his life.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Rankin co-founded several oil-related businesses, including the oil derrick service companies PAR and VeRan. Both were established with his lifelong business partner, Rodney Verette, with whom he shared a working relationship that spanned decades.

Rankin later became a co-owner of Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, Louisiana. He also held interests in several banks and savings and loan institutions, including Gladewater National Bank in his hometown. In the early 1990s, he co-founded United Lift Systems Inc., which developed a mast-jacking system for large-scale heavy lifting.

Rankin also made his mark in Quarter Horse racing as the breeder of champion Six Fortunes. The 1983 brown stallion by Streakin Six, out of My Fortune Cookie by Timeto Thinkrich, earned $574,788 while winning 11 of 28 starts.

Six Fortunes was named the 1986 AQHA Champion Three-Year-Old Colt after a campaign highlighted by victories in the Budweiser Derby (G1) and Heritage Place Derby.

He also finished second in the Dash For Cash Futurity (G1), Heritage Place Futurity (G3) and QHBC Championship Classic (G1), and third in the All American Futurity (G1).

Six Fortunes was a finalist in the Kindergarten Futurity (G1), All American Gold Cup (G1), World Championship Classic (G1), Ruidoso 550 Championship (G3) and Hollywood Park Invitational. He later became an influential sire and broodmare sire.

Rankin retired from active business in the mid-1990s, although retirement never fully suited him. He devoted much of his time and energy to his family and cared for his numerous aunts with the same dedication he brought to his professional life.

In 2001, he returned to business to help build an automotive software startup. The venture helped place his only son, Mark, on the same entrepreneurial path his father had followed. A lifelong golfer, Rankin was remembered as a skilled player and valued companion on the course.

He is survived by his wife, Ginger Rankin; his son, Mark Rankin, and Mark’s wife, Jana; grandchildren Gage Rankin, Rachel McKenzie and her husband, Blake, Lane Simmons, and Tera Brandt and her husband, Jacob; and great-grandchildren Oliver Brandt, Jude Brandt, Henry Brandt and Waylon McKenzie.

Visitation will be held Monday, September 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater.

Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday, September 22, at 10 a.m. at Gladewater Memorial Park.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in Rankin’s memory, visit the Croley Funeral Home memorial page.

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