The Gossip Column: October 13, 2023
A year and a day after the passing of JANE FLOWERS came word that STANLEY FLOWERS had passed away. STAN has been a friend for almost 50 years. How quickly those years have passed. His career as a professional handler is legend. STAN, like the late, great JANE FORSYTH, had the unique talent of gaining a dog’s confidence; they would get a response and a show out of a dog like no other handler. One personal example of that talent was STAN handling our not-so-steady Bloodhound at the 1978 Westminster Kennel Club show, giving him that extra confidence he needed to propel him to Best of Breed — our first Best of Breed win at Westminster. A moment one doesn't forget. He was a wealth of knowledge, especially about the Midwest, where he spent most of his professional life. Except for the time he spent in the South, when he and fellow professional handler MICHELE LEATHERS (BILLINGS) were an item. A remembrance appears in this issue of DOG NEWS. ...
It was his passing that prompted this week’s editorial to look back at some other old friends. The now annual BETH SWEIGART, PETER GREEN & ANDREW & AMY GREEN gathering at MONTGOMERY was well attended. Guests, who started with hot soup to take off the evening chill, included MICHAEL PAWASARAT, JIMMY DICKSON, CONNIE CLARK, CHRIS ERICKSON, PEGGY BEISEL-MCILWAINE, ROZ KRAMER, POLLY SMITH, MARI-BETH O’NEILL, PAM BEALE, SUSAN SPRUNG, CINDY VOGELS, GEORGE WRIGHT, KATHERINE WRIGHT, LEONARDO GARCINI, ERNIE & TUNI CONTI, ERNESTO LARA, LISA CROFT-ELLIOTT, LYDIA COLEMAN HUTCHINSON, TERRI BRAUD, SHIRLEY MIYAHARA, LETISHA & CARLOS DE LA TORRE, SUSAN FRASER, DOUG & SUE TACK, KAREN JUSTIN, GAYNOR GREEN, RICHARD GREEN, DEBBIE LAMANA, MELANIE KLAMAS, GILLIAN GREEN, APRIL & TODD CLYDE, PAUL & CRYSTAL CLAS, and KATHERINE MURRAY....
A well-deserved judging assignment for BERGIT COADY-KABEL as she selected the MONTGOMERY COUNTY Best in Show winner. Club president BRUCE SCHWARTZ didn't fly off to DISNEYLAND; he flew in the opposite direction to Switzerland at the conclusion of the dog show. Following a 13-year absence, MAPIRI WOOLDRIDGE was back in the Airedale Terrier ring. Great to see KAREN WILSON, who is now the proud grandmother of 25.
Two birthdays over the weekend: EDDIE BOYES celebrated a birthday that in years past would have been celebrated at his favorite Montgomery restaurant, FRIENDLYS, a fondness he shared with RUTHIE COOPER. It also would have been the 100th birthday of the late and irreplaceable first lady of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, JACKIE GOTTLIEB.