Always Remember Clint Harris – October 27, 1924 – August 3, 2018

Always Remember Clint Harris Lines From Linda. ShowSight Dog Show Magazine

From the monthly column “Lines From Linda”. ShowSight August 2018 Issue. (Photos – Above left Joanie & Clint Harris with “DJ” Ch. Chinoes Adamant James, Two Time Westminster BIS Winner. Above right – Clint Harris October 27, 1924 – August 3, 2018)

Always Remember Clint Harris
October 27, 1924 – August 3, 2018

Our sport has lost another legend, Clinton McGill Harris. At age 93, Clint was going strong at what has turned out to be his last dog show, the Louisville 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 driving 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 minutes 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, Kentucky. 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 nationally and internationally for judging assignments before he retired in 2012.

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.

Favorites among his golfing buddies were Dick Cooper, George Ward and Dr. Richard Greathouse!

My Mother Hazel Ayers, my brother, Roy Ayers, Jr. and I joined Clint to celebrate and roast Dr. Richard Greathouse for the Louisville Kennel Club and the Collie Club of Kentucky. Doc and Clint, along with close friend Joe Gregory are true Louisville, Kentucky dog world legends!

Judy Cooper and I along with Judy’s daughter Marcy Bankus spent an “Always Remember” day with Clint following his first fall. Oh, what reminiscing! That day I bonded with Clint’s daughter Barbie. She and I have kept in close touch since that special visit.

Clint is survived by his sister, Mary Lee Hendee of Chagrin Falls, Ohio and his three children, Barbara Johnson of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Blake Harris of Louisville, Kentucky and Natalie Mobley of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was very proud of his seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Since I was a little girl old enough to walk a Collie on a leash, I have adored Clint Harris. In the old days it was the Professional Handlers who judged Junior Showmanship. He always placed me first. What a doll he was with his handsome good looks, dark hair and that flat top. I will “Always Remember” Clint Harris!

A memorial service is being planned in October. The family requests remembrance contributions be made in Clint’s name to Take the Lead. www.takethelead.org or 800-814-1123. For the many of you who have asked, the following are the contacts for Clint’s two daughters and son:

Barbie Harris Johnson

1509 Orchard Drive

Nicholasville, KY 40356

859-797-9317

Natalie Harris Mobley

2894 E. Delhi Road

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103

734-255-9827

Blake Harris

202 Idlewylde Drive

Louisville, KY 40206

502-664-2206 

 

Joanie & Clint Harris with “DJ” Ch. Chinoes Adamant James,

Two Time Westminster BIS Winner

ads
  • At the age of four, Linda's love for TV's Lassie prompted her parents, Roy and Hazel Ayers to surprise her with a Collie. Her first times entering the confirmation ring began at age six. From showing her Conrad Collies in juniors, to judging, to becoming a part of an immediate family of three AKC judges, her life has evolved around the sport of purebred dogs. As a young professional just out of the University of Georgia, Linda served on the Executive Staffs of two Georgia Governors. She moved from serving at the State Capitol to assisting the Chairman of the Hyatt Hotel Corporation. As chairman and founder of a family owned Manufacturing Corporation and real estate holding company, Linda has overseen operations, acquisitions, and dispositions of considerable business holdings for over four decades. Her diverse companies have manufactured packaged goods for many household products you likely used in your homes, interior components for the automotive industry you enjoy in your cars, and industrial chemical products used in the electric utility industry. She partnered in commercial acquisitions in Washington, D.C. on a 250 million dollar level. Linda has developed significant properties delivering hundreds of home sites in Greenville, South Carolina in conjunction with NVR/Ryan Homes in addition to apartments, an IMAX theater, commercial tracts and much more. She is the proud mother of one son, Edward P. (Todd) Turner,III of Columbia, South Carolina. After retiring from many years as District Director of the Collie Club of America, Linda served for fourteen years as AKC Delegate for the Greenville Kennel Club. She is currently President of the Carolinas Judges Study Group, a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Collie Club of Georgia where she was their very first Junior Member, a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Greenville Kennel Club, and a Quarter Century Member of the Collie Club of America. Her Christian faith is exhibited in her belief that, “Time is the most important gift you can share to make someone happy or to make a difference.” Mentoring athletes from professional to high school levels has been a huge passion and blessing in Linda's life. At any given time you may find her in a locker room, on the playing field, or on the court inspiring winners. To quote her, "I would rather go to a ballgame than a ball." Linda has been on board since the inception of ShowSight

  • Show Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

comment *

  • name *

  • email *

  • website *

You May Also Like

Do judges make mistakes?

Do Judges Make Mistakes?

Do judges make mistakes? A more appropriate question, “Do Judges have regrets or second ...

William Holbrook

Remembering AKC Field Representative William Harold Holbrook

William Holbrook and Judge sincerely enjoyed, and never forgot, the longtime friendships they made ...

The Wicked Wicket

From ShowSight Magazine, February 2016 Issue. Click To Subscribe. Many breeds—mine included—have a height disqualification, and ...

Breed Standards Ensure Preservation

From the monthly column "On The Line", ShowSight Dog Show Magazine, May 2019 Issue. ...

Uniform Judging: Can coat throw off the most discerning eye?

Uniform Judging: Can coat throw off the most discerning eye? From the May Issue of ...

Michel Chaloux

Michel Chaloux | 2022 GSD National Specialty Judge

Our judge for Males and Futurity/Maturity Bitches at 2022 German Shepherd Dog National Specialty ...

Your Cart

No Item Found
Subtotal $0.00
Shipping $0.00
Tax $0.00
Total $0.00
0