Page 119 - ShowSight, November 2020

Dunn, Lockee, and other bird dog enthusiasts traveled to Chicago, home of the American Field, to talk with Bernie Mat- thys, Managing Editor of the American Field at that time. They encouraged Matthys to help them in publicizing information about their plans to create a non-profit organization, The Bird Dog Foundation. The foundation would raise funds for a National Bird Dog Museum.
Wilson Dunn, Gary Lockee, Bernie Matthys, and John O'Neall Jr. started a tireless effort to achieve their dream. A charter for the proposed non-profit organization was prepared and approved on May 25, 1988. The subsequent by-laws were approved on October 24, 1988 and the Bird Dog Foundation, Inc. was officially estab- lished on May 15, 1989.
The foundation set its goals for the museum and chose a loca- tion in Grand Junction because the area had been the site of the National Field Trial Championship since the early 1900s. Lockee and Dunn personally bought 4.5 acres of land in Grand Junction for the future site of the museum and donated it to the Bird Dog Foundation. Shortly thereafter, more than 4,000 bird dog enthu- siasts nationwide, as well as more than 35 corporations and busi- nesses, helped to sponsor the proposed museum.
By 1990, the individual and corporate sponsorship had gener- ated the funds to begin construction and, before completion, the entire cost of the museum had been fully funded. My wife, Carol, and I were present on February 16, 1991, when the National Bird Dog Museum was dedicated and opened its doors to the public. The National Bird Dog Museum is a part of the Bird Dog Foundation,
a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with revenue generated solely through donations from supporters.
Since its opening in 1991, the museum continues to expand, and several additions have been built to house the growing collection. The Retriever Hall of Fame was opened to the public in 2004 and, in 2012, the Sporting Dog Wing was added.
The museum also houses the Wildlife Heritage Center consist- ing of a large collection of taxidermy showcasing the wildlife of North America as well as the William F. Brown Memorial Library. The Library has an extensive collection of bird dog and game bird literature, a collection of stud books dating back to the 1910s, and various periodicals, including the American Field and other mate- rial about wildlife conservation and resource management.
The museum is closed on Mondays, but opens from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Memo- rial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
If you love bird dogs or any type of Sporting dog, a trip to the small town of Grand Junction, Tennessee, is the place to go. And if you truly want to see a bird dog work its magic, find a way to attend the National Championship in February. There is only one Westminster and there is only one National Bird Dog Champion- ship, both known throughout the world for being the best at what they do.
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Patent 7726495B1