I read this post and it just gives me goosebumps, I just love it when everyone reminisces about the great people and dogs in our breed. What a wonderful thing to have such great memories and to share those memories. Even as we are making memories now and in 20-50 yrs from now some will be writing or who knows maybe sharing face to face about the great dogs they saw in person or owned or showed. I love to look at the books and imagine what it was like to be there at the beginning. I love reading these posts! Thank you Pam In a message dated 5/29/2008 6:09:24 PM Central Daylight Time, Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Msg: #2 in digest From: Gsdbroon@xxxxxxx Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 17:37:31 EDT Subject: Memories of Margaret Pooley It is difficult to think of Margaret Pooley without having my eyes become moist. We first met Margaret in 1951 when the USMC transferred me to El Toro. We had a shepherd that I had trained and wanted one that Vivian could train. We had seen the San Miguel ads in the Review and visited them but the kennel had been ravaged by distemper and they had lost all their puppies. We then went to Rocky Reach. We had seen the pictures of her Ch Lass of Seamair in the Review next to the pool. San Miguel was money. Rocky Reach was, well, rocks. We had the pick of a litter sired by Yudo of Rocky Reach out of Ch. Janelka CDX. Our puppy was a monorchid with imperfect hips but he was a delightful dog. We overlooked his sister Ch Our Lovely Lady of Rocky Reach UD. Margaret referred us to Bill Koehlerââ?¬â?¢s novice obedience class, which she also attended and we saw Margaret on a weekly basis there and on many Saturdays when we would call at the ââ?¬Å?Ranchââ?¬Â?. Many of the shows were benched in those days and exhibitors were required to keep their dogs on the bench all during show hours when not being judged. We would go to the shows and sit with Margaret when shepherds were not being judged. It was at such a show, Glendale winter of 1951-52, that I made my first appearance in the breed ring. Moritza of Rocky Reach was WB and then BOW which was, in those days, judged before Specials. Since Margaret herself was showing Jolly Arno in specials and had no one else to take Moritza into specials she asked me and I leapt at the chance. Of course, also in the ring was the future Grand Victrix, Ch. Ulla of San Miguel, handled expertly and aggressively by Tiny Dupon, handler and kennel manager of San Miguel. Ulla was BIS that day. I do not know of any progeny from Ulla but champion after champion issued from Moritza when bred to Ch Jolly Arno of Edgetowne. Margaret needed to sell puppies to support herself and her dogs so many finishable animals ended in pet homes and never saw the show ring. Among the shepherd people in California at that time were Noah and Minerva Bloomer, who had Ch. Alert of Mi-Noahs, who became the GV in 1953 the same time as Ulla of San Miguel was victrix. Alert appeared small when in the ring with a dog like Ch Lorian of San Miguel, a large dog, but he was a beautiful type. One day while at the ââ?¬Å?Ranchââ?¬Â? We saw a large bitch and asked about her. Margaret said, ââ?¬Å?Oh thatââ?¬â?¢s Karah von Kuperhof, the Kupers thought she was too large so they let me have her.ââ?¬Â? Margaret finished Karahââ?¬â?¢s championship and bred her to Alert producing among others Ch Xantos of Rocky Reach the sire of Ch Tanzar Desiree the 1958 Grand Victrix. There is so much to say about Margaret, but Charlie Nofflett best summed it up at a post show gathering. A flash in the pan handler that had just won a couple of majors was boasting and, belittling Margaret, said, ââ?¬Å?Whoââ?¬â?¢s Margaret Pooleyââ?¬Â?. Charlie replied, ââ?¬Å?Sheââ?¬â?¢s my Mother, thatââ?¬â?¢s who she isââ?¬ Â?. Tom Brown **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================