Success in many different worlds was not as important to him as the work he did in purebred dogs. Duane’s crowning professional achievement in his own estimation was co-founding Doll-McGinnis Publications in 1983, and his pride in the dog magazines the com- pany produces knew no bounds. Duane served as publisher for the company’s five dog-show magazines for all the intervening years. At the age of 77 Duane still continued to operate as CEO/CFO of the company, a job he relished and performed to perfection. His shoes will be extremely difficult to fill. Among his many charitable acts, two come quickly to mind. In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, Duane and partner Joe launched the Hurri-Canine Rescue Effort which transported over 500 dis- placed pets from Miami’s obliterated areas, fed and medicated them and with the help of many other volunteers nursed them back to physical and mental health until they could be reunited with their families or placed into new, permanent homes. All this was accom- plished on the property the men owned in Lakeland, Florida; the effort took twelve full months to complete. Another was the famous annual Have-A-Heart Ball. Originally the Red Eye Reception because it started at 11:00 pm the Saturday before Westminster, in New York, following 9/11, Duane and Joe transformed renamed and revamped their party into a fundraiser for Take The Lead, the organization which helps dog fanciers in financial distress due to catastrophic illness, and for DOGNY, the American Kennel Club’s organization which benefits Search & Rescue Dogs. The first three Have-A-Heart functions were held at the Plaza Hotel in New York, which waived its 25-pound pet limit so dogs and handlers who actually performed rescue/recovery operations at the World Trade Center following 9/11 could stay overnight in the world’s most famous hotel and be honored at the Ball. Over six years the effort raised over a quarter of a million dollars for the two charities. Another dear friend, Dorothy Nickles, acted as our official Hostess. The Ball was discontinued the year, at 99, that Dorothy died.
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