Page 212 - ShowSight - November 2019

Ed note: If all the work reflected in this column last month didn’t scare you off, here’s more:
IN A WORD...
this month we visit a man with two of the toughest jobs in dogd0m, marvel at his expertise and the results he gets from his yeoman efforts. Interestingly, both this month’s victim—I mean
HOUSTON
subject—and last month’s started out in St. Bernards. I don’t know if a Saint’s stoic and world-
FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR EMERITUS
class work ethic informed their performance as show chairs, or if the cask of brandy helped.
Joseph Neil McGinnis III
Join us as we tip our hats to the imposing guy with the booming voice and the beaming smile.
WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW?
SUCCESSFUL SHOW CHAIRS SHARE THEIR TIPS, TRICKS—AND HOPE-
FULLY—SECRETS
EPISODE TWO
Wayne Ferguson
Chair, Morris & Essex President, KC of Philadelphia In-House Announcer,
KC of Philadelphia’s NATIONAL DOG SHOW
and much else!
Wayne Ferguson was born in New Brunswick,
New Jersey. Wayne still resides less than fifty
miles from his birthplace, in Broadway, NJ. His
roots in the dog world were firmly planted
when he accompanied his father on SPCA cru-
elty calls at the age of ten. While investigating
a call in 1964, Wayne came upon an abandoned
St. Bernard that was severely mistreated, malnourished, and tied to a pipe in a flooded basement. He carried her out of the building and took her home to bring her back to health. That was the beginning of his love for this giant breed.
Wayne’s dog show career began in 1966 when he attended the Sand & Sea Kennel Club’s match show in Lakewood, NJ. Point shows soon became a regular event in his life when he bred a number of Saint litters from 1967 through 1980. During 1979-1981, he was the owner of the top St. Bernard, Folly Barn’s Dexter (photos), who garnered 7 Bests in Show, 162 Group placements and 320 Best of Breed wins. “Dexter” was also number 8 of all breeds in 1981. >
210 • ShowSight Magazine, noveMber 2019