I really was sorry to learn that Montgomery will be leaving Ambler for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that this may signal other changes within the club itself. Realistically speaking, this is something we all face as time goes by. Hopefully the new venue will eventually outdo the old. I have so many fond (and not so fond) memories of Montgomery, both in the breed rings and outside of them, that they could fill a book! But very possibly my two favorite stories, one of which we tell with great amusement refers to a young Scott Sommer and a bloodhound carried to an early Montgomery at Ambler by us. It was in 1974 or ‘75 when AKC strictly interpreted the rule of un-entered dogs not being permitted on a show's premises. Now then, we all know that in reality Montgomery is licensed by AKC as an all breed show but is restricted to being an All Terrier Show at its own choice. Gene and I were on the lunch line directly behind Mr. and Mrs. LaFore when an announcement was made over the loudspeaker to the effect that would the person running the bloodhound down the center aisles of the grounds please desist immediately and leave the show grounds! Needless to say, it was obvious to whom this bloodhound belonged, and the LaFores, as well as many others, immediately turned around and saw the horror registered on our faces. It seems Scott's mother Sybil was showing her Smooths and a ten- or eleven-year-old (if that) Scott had fallen in love with a bloodhound pup we had exhibited the day before at Devon. He asked us if he could watch over her while we attended Montgomery and we said sure but just be sure to exercise in the back areas. Well, the rest is history and to this day we have many a chuckle over that story.
Another favorite Montgomery story is one year when we brought Goofy, our Jack Russell Terrier, who was named after Winnie Heckmann. We got her from the first Susan Fisher and Bobby Fisher. Goofy was a special name Susan called her mother as an infant, as I recall. In any event, Frank Hara had just become a field rep and saw us with this dog (there we go again with an un-entered dog) and asked us what the breed was. I told him it was a Smooth from Mrs. Farrell, never imagining he would believe me. Well, he did! He then told Mrs. Farrell what a cute Smooth of hers we had! Well, any of you who knew Mrs. Farrell knew she would not take kindly to that sort of comparison. She took me to task as only she could when she saw me later on that day. Years later, she and Mr. Farrell returned from a trip to England and brought me a joke "gift" of a black and white bloodhound etching. It happened to be signed and numbered. On the back it was indicated that it cost her less than a pound! This was her way of getting even with my calling my JR a Smooth of hers. Well, the years passed and at a future Montgomery, one of the concessionaires had up for sale a print, signed and numbered, of this very bloodhound! The selling price was $700! I fell over when I saw it and found Mrs. Farrell and brought her over to see it. She couldn't believe her eyes and laughed as hard as I over this. For your information, this etching sits in front of my typewriter (still don't use a computer) as I write this story, and has for at least the last 15 years! These kinds of memories are as important as our various breed, class and group placements with both Skyes and Airedales through the years. They only serve to highlight the fact that it's not only about winning at shows that adds zest and flavor to our great sport, but little incidents such as the above, which have major impacts as well.
Have you been as impressed as I have been with AKC's most pro-active role in helping out those so hard hit on the East Coast and down South by the various hurricanes we've been faced with! I mean really, I have not seen any other registry even lend a hand, much less be so pro-active financially and morally too. This is a diametric change from past attitudes and administrations. This indicates that monies earned through new sources are being put to proper public use. This should serve to increase both respect for AKC generally in the eyes of the dog owning public and raise an awareness of what good work they can and do perform for constituents as well. These expansionary works are truly part and parcel of the Menaker Board's great outlook on the role that AKC can and must play in American society generally. Now then, this does not mean that everything the Board does is right, but on key issues and overall this Board, to my mind, is way above average. Let's not in the coming March elections get mired down in unimportant and meaningless disagreements over minor issues that bear little if any relationship to the fine job these men and women are truly succeeding in doing. •
