The Gary Forrester Award honors a person that carries forward the philosophy, dedication, and joy of ASFA Lure Coursing. Dean Wright has done that for close to 40 years. Dean began coursing in 1976 when lure coursing came to the east. His kennel Trybeau, produced some amazing coursing hounds. As president of the Ibzan Hound Club of America, he was instrumental in getting Ibizan Hounds recognized by ASFA. He began judges’ seminars to begin to educate judges and to give information for those that might be interested in becoming a judge. Dean has mentored many that have become judges He’s had many winning hounds as well as memorable ones. A vivid memory of Dean was at trials held at his house near Hanover, PA where we would always run Ibizan’s last so that we could break for lunch while his Ibizan, Fire, continued to run around the field. The hound was fondly referred to as “Fire Come”. Dean held many parties at his house after field trials such as a masquerade party over New Year’s weekend and wet t-shirt contests. Dean put the fun in lure coursing weekends. Dean has served as almost every function of a field trial. I am not sure if he’s ever been a field trial secretary though! He became an all-breed licensed judge in 1978 and was also an excellent lure operator. He is always willing to take a new person under his wing and teach them everything he knows and then some! Dean has served as RD, 1st vice president and president of ASFA. Also, usually a vocal part of ACoDs. He will admit that he has some hair brained ideas but is always willing to listen to others. When Ping Pirrung was President of ASFA, he was the 1st vice-president. He would call her sometimes several times a week with ideas or to keep her on task. She found his input usually very helpful. Dean lives and breathes ASFA, it was part of his job. He is part of Gary Forrester’s era and exemplifies Gary’s dedication to lure coursing. |
Frank, a Saluki fancier, has owned and bred [kennel name Patayan] for coursing plus conformation throughout the past six decades. A founding member of CLCA and North American Coursing Association [NACA]. He served as the “Vice Field Chairman” for the first CLCA Grand National in 1975, and has served as Field Trial Chairman, lure operator, and judge over many years. Being active since the essential beginnings, he was grandfathered as an ASFA and AKC lure coursing judge. He has been a licensed ASFA judge since 1978 (the first year ASFA had “licensed” judges). Additionally, he has served on the CLCA Board as a vice president and director in the “early years,” as a board member for the Saluki Club of America, and Vice President of NACA and RMCC.
In a February 1989 interview with Judie Treuschel for The Saluki Quarterly, Frank was asked, “What would you like to be remembered for?” His response, “That I’ve protected the breed, that I did not spread puppies around.” What makes our humanity so special is connectedness; and Frank with his Salukis are a splendid image of what great depth the human-animal bond holds. Certainly, many of us sighthound fanciers directly relate.
CLCA considers itself immeasurably fortunate Frank still comes to judge a day at a trial. NACA enjoys when he’s up for a breezy, read gusty, stroll alongside friend’s hounds for whitetail free coursing. [Also from TSQ interview] “Ever since I wanted a Saluki, I always thought I would open field course… I like the idea of the Saluki being a dog that can still do the things that he was bred to do.” |
