ShowSight - August 2018

Lines From Linda Always Remember Clint Harris BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR O ur sport has lost another legend, Clin- ton McGill October 27, 1924 - August 3, 2018

Always quite the sportsman, Clint and his second wife Joan Hall Harris enjoyed fishing and golf. Clint and Joanie were married for 48 years before she passed away. My late husband Jim and I were blessed with so many memories of golf outings with them. From Mackinaw Island at the marvelous Dog Days at Dan and Amelia Mussers’ Grand Hotel to Florida’s Handlers and Hackers golf tournaments, we exchanged jokes and big stories.

Harris. At age 93, Clint was going strong at what has turned out to be his last dog show, the Lou- isville Kennel Club only five months ago in March. His friends were amazed as he had overcome a life threatening fall only a year before on July 6. Last month on July 9, he

fell again. During the past year Clint was back to normal driv- ing around in a Jaguar and enjoying visits with his friends. He especially loved the company of his best buddies Janet and Darrell Manley. Following his most recent surgery last month, 20 min- utes after he came out of the recovery room, I received a photo of him giving me a thumbs up! That was Clint, always upbeat, fun and positive! Raised in the Crescent Hill area of Louisville, Kentucky, he attended Male High School and was an Eagle Scout. At age 17 Clint enlisted in the United States Army entering Ski Patrol training in Colorado. He also served in France as a Paratrooper, an MP and for a time cared for the military carrier pigeons. Following his military service, Clint became interested in dog training. With his first wife Billie Ed Williams Harris, he opened Waggin’Tail Kennels in Oldham County, Ken- tucky. Eventually the young couple moved the business of boarding, training and grooming to Louisville. For decades Clint was a Professional Dog Handler. He won Best in Show at the famed Westminster Kennel Club for two consecutive years in 1971 and 1972 with a Springer Spaniel bred by his sister, Ann H. Roberts. Later he became a popular all breed judge and for decades traveled nation- ally and internationally for judging assignments before he retired in 2012.

“HE WON BEST IN SHOW AT THE FAMED WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB

FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN 1971 AND 1972 WITH A SPRINGER SPANIEL.”

66 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A UGUST 2018

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