ShowSight January 2019

Lines from Linda: Frank Murphy...

BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR continued

Deb and Frank Murphy ringside

The Murphy’s hiking at Caesar’s Head with Carrick and Teagan

Deb and Frank Murphy and the author

Frank with assistant Nacho Calvo

that he was showing in obedience and a German Shepherd that he showed in Shutzhund. He taught obedience classes every week for the Orlando Dog Training club. In 1983 he bought his first Rhodesian Ridgeback so he could show in conformation. In 1989 his bred by exhibitor bitch won BOW’s at the national. She later broke the record for BIS’s. In 1991 Frank was a project super- intendent on a missile assembly plant in Martin Marietta in Orlando. He also had a pet supplies store in Orlando, Florida. Murphy had been showing dogs for peo- ple for several years when he realized

he was making more money by lunch- time the first day of the dog show than he was taking home in his paycheck, so when the job was complete he left the electrical contractor. Thirteen years ago, Frank left Flori- da and built the facility he now has in upstate South Carolina. His life changed forever when he was introduced to Deb at the funeral of his longtime client, Sam Lawrence. He and Deb have now been married for seven years. Deb’s son Donald works in California and her daughter Kayla is a senior at the University of South Carolina. Finding

Deb, Donald, and Kayla has turned out to be Frank’s greatest win of all! When Frank and Deb are not working on their property they enjoy breeding Rhode- sian Ridgebacks, riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle in the mountains, and hiking with the dogs. Purina Pro Plan Summer 2018 Dog Update featured FM Kennels in their publication Kennel Smarts. Take a look and see the Murphys’ beautiful facility. Congratulations Frank! You opti- mize the professionalism of our American Kennel Club Registered Handlers’ Program.

Awarding Handler of the Year plaque and sterling silver AKC RHP pin are: (L/R) Pattie Proctor, Mary Dukes, Field Coordinator, Tim Thomas; Program Director, Frank Murphy; Field Coordinator, Gina Weiser and Royal Canin’s Erica Vogt, Brian Bonsall and Jason Taylor

84 • S how S ight M agazine , J anuary 2019

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