DeLois Lucille Hinson Senez, daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. Bill Hinson of Lampasas, Texas, was born on December 8, 1941, in Copperas Cove, Texas. DeLois started helping her daddy pen cattle, goats, and sheep around Texas as soon as she could ride a horse and started running barrels at the age of eight. Her first big win in the barrels was in Killeen, Texas, where she won enough money to purchase her own saddle. Other winnings followed in Belton, Temple, Georgetown, San Saba, Waco, Lampasas, and Graham.
Her success in the beginning was attributed to a horse she shared with her sister, Donna Faye Hinson Hanks. Shorty was ridden by her sister first in the barrels, and after the saddles were changed and he had a chance to get some air, DeLois would compete with the two sisters usually placing first and second. In 1953, DeLois joined the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA) in Dallas, Texas. In the following years, she won 15 saddles and too many buckles to count. During this time, she developed a love of racing and became the first licensed lady jockey in the state of Texas. On January 15, 1970, she won her first race out at Hill Top Downs in Normangee, Texas, and continued her horse racing career for the next 27 years. She was chosen to double the part of a lady jockey in the 1976 movie Casey’s Shadow starring Walter Matthau.
DeLois married Cleon R. “Tooty” Senez in 1964 and currently resides in Walker, Louisiana. They have two children, Tanya Wallace and Bryan Senez. Presently, she teaches kids of all ages to ride, trains horses, and continues to run barrels. DeLois has a great love for animals of any kind. At her home, she raises bobcats, Border Collies, and Welsh Corgies. DeLois has three sisters who have already been inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Eula Thomas, Billie McBride, and Donna Faye Hanks. These four siblings’ involvement in Texas rodeo helped contribute to the foundation of the rodeo world as we know it today. In DeLois’ own words, “The good Lord has richly blessed me and guided me all the way. I would have accomplished nothing without Him. God bless everyone!”
