LINES FROM LINDA: REMEMBERING JOSEPH E. GREGORY
Atlanta Kennel Club 1963: Judge Melbourne Downing awarding Best in Show to Ch. Treceder’s Painted Lady, owned by Donald E. and Mary E. Smith, and handled by Joe Gregory. Atlanta Kennel Club President Roy L. Ayers (my father) presenting Silver Service. Joe repeated this BIS win on the following day, April 12 and 13, 1963. Photos by Bill Evans
Clint Harris was also a Kentuckian remembered as an icon. Barbie Johnson, Clint’s daughter, shared these memories:
“In looking back over my childhood, the memories of spending time with my dad, Clint Harris, flood in. During my elementary school years, I watched my dad train dogs in obedience at our home, and when he started training classes, I often assisted him with setting up the floor mats and so forth. Soon dad started handling dogs more often at conformation shows. I was taken along often, and I started hearing the names of other handlers and meeting many of those who were dad’s closest friends. Many, perhaps most, of those handlers are gone. A couple of names stand out in my mind: Dr. Richard Greathouse and Joe Gregory. I got to see Joe showing Boxers at the local Kentucky shows, and hear her dad talk about the shows and his friends who showed dogs that lived in Louisville. I remember as a young girl how magical dog shows where—everyone was dressed up, sporting their PHA pins. Dad and Joe Gregory were the young, handsome fellows who were at the shows. As a young preteen girl, it wasn’t lost on me how much they were admired by everyone for their looks and their skills in the ring. As time went on, Joe started judging, as did my dad. I’ d ask dad how Joe was now and then, and found out they’ d remained friends and talked frequently. Then, toward the end of dad’s life, Joe would check on dad at the hospital. I answered one of those calls and realized that Joe sounded the same, very kind and full of fun, and he had a sincere concern for dad. Dad passed away in 2018. I met up with Joe and Evalyn at the Lexington show in September of 2019. He was genuinely glad to see me and chat. Still handsome and full of energy. Now, Joe has joined dad and all of the icons from the dog world who have gone on. The loss will be felt strongly by all who admired Joe Gregory. I’m so glad that I got to visit with him in 2019. My heart goes out to Joe’s son, Joseph, and his daughter, Evalyn. The dog world has lost another legend.” —Barbie Harris Johnson Houston and Toddie Clark, two of my favorite friends and one of the dog world’s most popular judging couples, recalled the following stories: “Joe was indeed a ‘one of a kind’ kind of guy and the only adult we know who had rather have an ice cream cone than a thick, juicy steak. He was well-known for his ‘sweet tooth’ and many club members throughout the country would bring him their home-made goodies to the shows when he was on the panel. Everyone liked Joe, and he was an all-around neat guy. Plus, he was respected for his breed knowledge. Additionally, you never saw Joe without a smile on his face. We knew Joe as a professional handler as well as a professional judge, and we also know his lovely daughter, Evalyn. Sharon, our youngest child, was a friend of Evalyn’s, and went home with the Gregorys from a dog show when they were in their early teens. She has fond memories of her visit and friendship with Evalyn and the Gregorys. Before we all had cable TV and the Internet, Joe told us about his huge out- door “big dish” that brought him channels from all over the world. He said he could watch the pre-show set-ups and the talking that didn’t go out on TV. He added that he stays healthy by playing basketball and jogging. In our younger years, we bred Miniature Pinschers and we won the breed early-on at the Garden one year. Joe was still handling at the time and offered us a blank check for her—and we turned him down. (With four children at home, that was a hard decision.) As she was to have been our foundation bitch, we bred her to the famous “Little Daddy” who was owned and handled by E.W. Tipton, a well-known AKC judge. As luck would have it, she died at the vet’s office deliver- ing her first litter. Sad. Joe was unforgettable there as well. Our love and prayers go out to Joey and Evalyn and to their family members.” —Houston and Toddie Clark
Joe Gregory handling Ch. Treceder’s Painted Lady on the way to his first BIS of the weekend, under Judge Melbourne Downing. Hazel Ayers (my mother) presenting Silver Tray.
April 16, 1960: Atlanta Kennel Club, Judge Dr. A. A. Mitten awarding Best Working Dog to Doberman Pinscher, handled by Joe Gregory.
Friends Roy Ayers and Joe Gregory celebrating Joe’s back-to-back BIS wins, April 12,13, 1963.
86 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022
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