Duane started his adventure in this sport the same as many of us, with a visit to a local show and an instant love for the competitive world of purebred dogs. He jumped right in, buying an English import female from Edward B. Jenner of Knolland Pekingese and an American-bred male (albeit pure English Copplestone breeding) from Troy Caswell. He had further success with dogs from Lorraine Cole, Marjorie Lewis, Bill Norris and Barbara Hagen but his breeding and exhibiting didn’t really catch fire till he formed one of the strongest and longest friendships and partnerships of his life, with the legendary Ruby Dudley of Dud-Lee’s Pekingese, the lady topping the charts in a breed in which it was extremely difficult to do. In a time when the Pekingese breed was owned by the most powerful and influential, not to mention socially-con- nected people in the country, Ruby rose to prominence with a breeding program taking place on a small Iowa farm. Litter after litter produced gorgeous-headed, hugely-coated sturdy correct Pekes which quickly became lionized by judges and spectators alike. As she rose through the ranks jealous people cast aspersions and circulated rumors about this woman who despite her critics continued to produce the best Pekingese in the United States. She was blackballed from member- ship in Clubs but no one could argue with the results. Ruby continued in her quest to produce better and better Pekes with zero regard for the opinions of these people; she knew they’d come around once they saw her Pekes. And they did, in droves.
“DUANE STARTED HIS ADVENTURE IN THIS SPORT THE SAME AS MANY OF US...”
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 / 07&.#&3
Powered by FlippingBook