Linda Ayers Turner Knorr first entered the conformation show ring as a six-year-old Junior. Dogs are a lifelong passion for the entire Roy Ayers family.
Linda, a SHOWSIGHT magazine writer, was honored by the Greenville Kennel Club for 72 years of contributions to the sport.
GKC President Jeanette Stribling spoke to the crowd. “Greenville Kennel Club has dedicated our shows this year to longtime member Linda Ayers Turner Knorr who will be presenting today’s Best-in-Show trophy. Linda’s contributions to the dog world and especially our club are tremendous. From showing her Collie as a Junior, to becoming an accomplished judge, to serving as our AKC Delegate, and receiving AKC’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, Linda has spent 72 years promoting the purebred dog. Please join me in welcoming Linda as our presenter of this most special award.”
BIS Judge Butch Schulman touched the hearts of the crowd with his emotional tribute to Linda Ayers Turner Knorr before he awarded Best in Show.
Butch said, “I am honored to be here with you tonight, Linda, not only because you are a dear friend, but because your father, Roy Ayers, Sr. was extremely influential in my life, both in our sport and as a judge. He awarded me one of my first Best of Breeds over multiple specials when I was just 11 years old on the end of the lead with my parents’ top-winning Collie bitch, Ch. Merriacre Blue Pinafore.
He was genuinely a kind man, and always the quintessential southern gentleman who exhibited the utmost respect to every exhibitor in his ring, including a young boy like me long before many of the handlers here today were even born. I will always remember your Dad. And, you have carried his torch within our sport with all of your accomplishments as a tribute to him as well. It is truly a privilege to be selected by the Greenville Kennel Club to award Best in Show at this milestone event that salutes your contributions to our sport and the fine state of South Carolina.” —Butch Schulman
As an exhibitor for over 60 years, I watched Linda Ayers grow up into a strikingly beautiful woman who mirrored her family’s exceptional qualities of character and southern grace. We all have reason to be proud of her accomplishments and we, as dog lovers and exhibitors, wish her continued success in all that she does.
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