Gene,
I got my Valeene Beauty scions directly from Don. My notes, from Don, indicate that it is a Lena X Early Golden. I'm not certain whether or not he bred it, or whether it's a Claypool selection.

John Raymond had an article in the Sept. 2006 NNGA 'Nutshell' wherein he mapped out relatedness of a bunch of the named/numbered persimmon selections, particularly those that Jim Claypool used in his breeding program.
Early Golden is a known entity, but here's the info on Lena, from John's article:
"Lena(Mitchellana) Winner of the Mitchell(IN) Persimmon Festival in 1955. Fruit is squat and soft with tender skin and attractive red color. Good in cooked products, flavor holds up well in frozen pulp. Ripens early over a long period."

VB hasn't fruited for me yet, so I can't comment first-hand on fruit size/quality, though Don and my buddy Danny Vessels, also from IN, both gave it rave reviews. This should have been my year to get fruit, but the Easter BFD(Big Freeze Disaster) probably ended that possibility.

Lucky,
Many thanks for the information -- I thought you might be the most likely one to know. I found John Raymond's article on his web site. I see in "Table 1 Best Scoring Claypool Crosses" where he lists about 7 Lena x Early Golden crosses -- so you may well be right that it's a Claypool selection.

On a related note, you might find this link to a radio show interesting:

HomeGrown on WFPL September 17, 2005 -- Pawpaws and Persimmons

Two native trees that have traditionally offered more fame than fortune grow tall on HomeGrown this week. Indiana persimmon expert Don Compton has the full story on the commercial development of that fruit, and Kentucky State UniversityÂs Kirk Pomper explains the schoolÂs extensive research project on the pawpaw as an alternative crop.

http://216.24.56.185:8080/WFPL%27s%20Home%20Grown/20050917HG.mp3.m3u

I'd been awed and not a little overwhelmed by John's article, but did notice the multiple LenaXEG selections in that table, one of which is I-94, which is currently riding something of a wave of popularity among persimmon enthusiasts in this part of the country due to its dark orange pulp, lack of black specks(precipitated tannins) and good flavor.
Managed to get my hands on one small piece each of I-94, Morris Burton, Szukis, and Ennis Seedless scionwood a week or two back at the KNGA meeting, and hope to get them growing here, as well.

I wonder if anyone has better selections of the 60 chromosome southern subspecies of persimmon? I don't recall ever seeing mention of any, but surely there are better specimens here and there in the wild. I notice persimmons in fruit more on very dry ground (excessively drained sands), where I don't spent a lot of time walking, so I haven't come across any better ones myself. I'm told they are also found on better soil here but I haven't noticed them, especially in fruit.

Has anyone gotten any valeene beauty fruit yet that can comment on its quality?