Wayne Plemmons
Wayne was born in 1942 on an isolated East Tennessee farm lacking both electricity and indoor plumbing. While living with his grandmother, he attended a one-room school with eight grades and only one teacher. He was so shy that if he met someone walking on the road, he would cross to the other side to avoid speaking. In time, he became too hard for his grandmother to control and was sent to live with his parents in Western North Carolina – a community he still lives in today.
When Wayne graduated from high school, he obtained a job at the local textile plant American Enka/BASF as a machine operator. The company provided the opportunity to obtain a business degree at Western Carolina University, which he was able to achieve while working full-time, attending classes at night and on Saturdays. He advanced from operator to management, retiring in 1997 after 35 years of service. He also met his wife Annette during this time; they have been married 53 years and have one son, Mark. Wayne and Annette take their faith seriously and serve in their church. Both enjoy voluntary work as greeters and in other roles. Wayne works on the “Chain Gang”: a group of men who work one day a week at maintaining the church facility and helping the needy in the church and community (handicap ramps are a specialty).
In the mid-1970s, while looking for a beagle pup for his son, Wayne was introduced to the sport of brace beagling by Herb Angel. Herb sold him a “spinning” Pearson Creek-bred female, with which Wayne received an NBQ at his first fun trial and 1st place at the next. Herb also provided him with a male, Smoky Mountain Jabbo, that he thought was license trial material. Jabbo was Wayne’s first field champion and the only one of his next 21 field champions that he did not breed. Wayne has bred a total of 51 Champions.
Wayne started running his beagles under the kennel name Hominy Valley, later changed to Mark-A-Way Beagles (Mark for Mark, A for Annette, and Way for Wayne). I guess you would say that was the beginning of his success with Mark-A-Way Beagles. Three of the champions he bred have won the National Championship: Mark-A-Way Lone Ranger by Wayne, Mark-A-Way Bertha by Doc Humphrey, and Mark-A-Way Hope by Dave Kerr. Wayne has four Field Champions in the Producing Dam Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame in 2008, the same year his Mark-A-Way Leggs went into the Producing Dam Hall of Fame. In 2016, Mark-A-Way Kristy and Mark-A-Way Surprise went into the Producing Dam Hall of Fame, followed by Mark-A-Way Shira in 2019. As you can see, Wayne has been a highly successful Breeder and his Producing Dam awards prove it.
Wayne attributes his success to his wife, who told him when he began beagling that “if the only females involved were dogs, that there would be no problem,” as well as his many mentors: Richard Sluder, his beagling companion for over 40 years, who taught him that “a beagle has to get still to run a rabbit”; Andy Anderson, who said “Don’t depend on the stud dog, your pups are normally no better than your bitch”; Doc Humphry, who provided advice, friendship, and vet care for a struggling beagler; and so many more too numerous to mention.
Wayne served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Western Carolina Beagle Club for over 20 years, as President of Greene County Beagle Club and now First Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer for the NC State Championship, and (multiple times) on the Board of Directors for the Southern and Mid Dixie, not to mention other local positions. When Wayne is at a beagle club, he beats brush, marshals, feeds rabbits, mows the grass, and has assisted with judging license and sanction trials; he is always willing to help in any way he can.
While training dogs and club work has been a challenge after Western Carolina Beagle Club lost its grounds, Wayne still maintains his membership at four beagle clubs: Iodine State (the closest, at 80 miles away), Greene County, Catawba County, and Savannah River. Wayne loves to compete at all levels and enjoys most the fellowship and camaraderie of his fellow beaglers.
Being nominated as a candidate for the Beagle Hall Fame is a great honor for Wayne, a man who has devoted himself to the participation in the promotion of Brace Beagling. He has truly shown his support and dedication to our sport through the years.
By Mark Plemmons
Hall of Fame Nominee Richard E. Baumann
Born June 12, 1952, Covington, Kentucky.
My Beagling journey began when my grandfather Louis Oskamp and I joined Eagle Creek Beagle Club in 1971. He never made it back to that club after becoming a member, passing away from leukemia. I got the two hounds that he had purchased from Bill Cartwright, Ponderosa Lonnie and the one that he named using the kennel name that I still use, Brushy Fork Lill.
Offices that I have held: Eagle Creek Beagle Club, Secretary and Field Trial Secretary (FTS), which I still am. The OKI Association, Secretary/ FTS/Treasurer. Managed the transfer of the OKI Association over to the Heartland Federation. Heartland Federation, Secretary/Treasurer/FTS, (37) years served, working on (38). Adams County Beagle Club, Secretary/FTS. Iams Dog Food Championship trial, FTS. Loveland Beagle Club, Vice-President and President Adams County, President New Eagle Extravaganza trial, provided computer program for first year and was to be the FTS the second year.
The computer: The Heartland encouraged the use of a computer, but the Iams trial demanded its use. Taking advanced entries for two classes that were limited to seventy entries per class required the computer. My friend, Dan Chaney, created a program for the “Sweet Sixteen” finals, leading to the creation of the original draw sheet. This program worked well; I shared it with anyone that wanted a copy. Another good friend, I know but I do have more than one, Bob Kimber, wanted more out of the program. My first attempt didn’t excite Bob one little bit, so I went home and figured out what made that program tick and now with Bob’s persistence we have a pretty darn good program that is still available to anyone that has a lap top, printer, and has some experience with Microsoft Excel. At Clark County Beagle Club, I have been using this program for the thirteen field trials that are held there whether I have a hound in that class or not for the last four years.
Hounds: Bill Bushmire, outgoing President of the Heartland at the time, as a thank you, he gave me a male pup, I picked him up at the mid-winter meeting. That turned out to be FCB Brushy Fork Billy Jack, my first Field Champion; FCB Brushy Fork Warrior was a hound that I had to put on the truck with Bob and Lynette Coil because I was the caregiver for Dad at that time. Warrior had people talking, wanting to breed to him, and I was looking forward to running him in the Futurity Federations. Covid-19 hit, and his Futurity trials were canceled and to top it off, he was sterile. I reached the top two years later with FCB Brushy Fork Machinist being the 2022 ABBA & Purina Futurity Overall Winner. I have finished (13) hounds with one well on his way.
Judging: Judged license trials in (8) states and (3) Federations trials.
Attending trials: Have attended field trials in (9) states and all (7) of the Federations and have also used the services of Bob Bibbee and Bob and Lynette Coil to handle my hounds.
ABBA: Original Leaderboard, provided by Larry and Darin Lee, I was asked to be the spell checker of the hound’s names. When this website closed, I was asked to help find a replacement. Another friend, Tom Czwalga, who has a website and his IT man who knows his way around Microsoft Excel worked with me and we now have Leaderboard II up and running along with license trial reports on the “Tally-Ho Newsletter” website. I am also responsible for the ABBA Federation Participation Award program which requires printing the certificates and either doing the presentation personally or having another ABBA Officer do the presentation. Worked with Russ and Peggy Arend along with Lynette Coil and Sonny Price maintaining an accurate membership list, Breeders Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame, and other tidbits that appeared in the last two ABBA Membership Directories that went to print. I am also the FTS.
Conclusion: I have enjoyed working and helping the Beagling community be more efficient and have readable trial documents. Training a pup, watching it develop, and then competing in field trials is just a cool experience.
I want to wish the other nominees: Raymond Brantner, John Johnson, Wayne Plemmons, along with the four hounds’ good luck!
Thanks for the honor of being a Hall of Fame nominee!
Richard E. Baumann
John E. Johnson
has actively supported and worked toward improving the sport of brace beagling since he joined Northwestern Indiana Beagle Club in 1973. Through the years John has been involved with the breeding, judging, training, and his favorite thing, running the hounds at license trials. He judged the Field Championship trial for the Midwestern, when it was held at Chicago, as well as many license trials throughout the years.
John has supported breeders, trainers, clubs, federations, and beaglers everywhere he goes. He believes that it takes everyone working together to keep this sport going. John not only trains and runs his beagles all over the country, but, supports trainers, handlers and clubs with needed entries.
In 1996, his dog, FC English Lake Flatliner won the Field Champion Trial and the Futurity at the Midwestern Federation(Chicago). Recent accomplishments include his 2019 Purina Awards in both the 13" Male Futurity class with Duncan Creek Justin and the 15" Male Futurity class with Tanglewood Banjo. In 2020 he won the National Brace Beagling Breeders Hall of Fame Producing Dam with FCB Cisco's Red Gold. In 2021 he won the 15" Female ABBA/Purina Futurity award with Saltsprings Hanna Belle. In 2022, John won the 15" Futurity male class at the Midwestern Federation with English Lake Blank Check, and with his partner, John Pennington, won the 2022 15” Male ABBA/Purina Derby award with Black Hills Festus.
John, runs his dogs at about 30-40 field trials yearly, taking around six to ten dogs each time. John recently finished his 128th Field Champion, Gillums Courtyard Levis, at Adams County. This is his third FC this year and four more to soon come.
John earned the Amerian Brace Beagling Association participation award in 2021, along with his traveling buddies, Chuck Poczik and Bobby Lamberts.
Born July 15, 1949 in Knox Fork, Kentucky to George and Neola Johnson, John has fond memories of going rabbit hunting with his dad and their beagles in the hills of Kentucky.
While living in Portage, Indiana, John joined the army in the late 60's, serving our country during the Viet Nam war. After being seriously injured in the line of duty, he finished his service at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs. John was honorably discharged as a disabled veteran and awarded the Purple Heart for his actions during service.
After returning home from the service, John worked at Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor, Indiana. He held many positions while working there, finishing his career as an overhead crane operator when he retired after thirty plus years.
John and Valerie met in 1971 and married one year later. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2022. John enjoys a close relationship with his three children, John W, Jason, and Jolene, who have blessed him with eight grandkids.
After John joined Northwestern Indiana Beagle Club in the 70's, he helped with rabbits, grounds, upgrades, kennels, and anything that was needed to keep it running. John served as Vice President under President Denny Miller and then as President, serving Northwestern Indiana Beagle Club for over 30 years. He is also president of Dixie Springs, Wabash Valley, Michiana, and Ft. Wayne Beagle Clubs. John has also been Vice President of St. Joe Valley for many years.
Before 2008, Northwestern Indiana Beagle Club was located in Otis, Indiana. The club was experiencing a decrease in participation, membership and entries. Problems with predators, clubhouse repairs and grounds upkeep were overwhelming. John wanted us to thrive as a club and realized that we needed a change to do so. He encouraged the members to sell the club grounds and purchase a place that could suit our needs. One was found in North Judson, Indiana. John was instrumental in getting everyone to work as a team to build a new clubhouse, put up fences, build a new kennel and a garage, as well as getting the grounds in order. We succeeded in building a club that all beaglers could come to and enjoy.
As beagle clubs were disappearing and closing their grounds in Indiana and the rest of the country. John helped some of those clubs find a home at Northwestern Indiana. Michiana, Dixie Springs, Wabash Valley and Ft. Wayne Indiana beagle club, have all found a home at Northwestern. There used to be a lot of brace beagling clubs in Indiana. Now there are only seven with five of them being held at Northwestern Indiana. If Northwestern Indiana were to close their doors, there would be only two clubs left in Indiana. John does all he can to keep our doors open.
John has made many good friends all over the country. He is easy to get along with and knows what a good dog needs to do to win. He has partnered with many respected beaglers throughout the years to help run and finish dogs. John has a lot of fond memories, partnering with Charlie Goggins, Donnie Prine, Russ Arend, Wayne Plemmons, Neil Roberts, Bobby Lamberts, Travis and Bob Cain, Don Fortcamp, Tim Beck and many others. John's rule: if a dog goes on his truck, either it is his dog, a partner's dog, or the dog's owner is sitting next to him.
John has always tried to keep our kids and grandkids involved. Through beagling, John has taught his kids and grandchildren about true sportsmanship, responsibility, service and friendship.
John is all in when it comes to beagling. He is respectful, loyal, intuitive, a hard worker, and is helpful to all that he calls family or friend. He has done so much to advance this sport we all enjoy, and we are all very proud of what he has achieved to further this sport of beagling.
by Valerie Johnson
RAYMOND BRANTNER
I was born December 11, 1956 on a small farm near Oxford, PA. My three brothers and 1 sister were raised in a 2 room bungalow in the middle of the Serpentine Barrens. We had a wood stove for heat, a single cold water spigot, and a path to an outhouse. Needless to say, we were definitely not raised with a silver spoon in our mouths. My father made less than $10,000/year in his entire working life. I knew from an early age in life, I had to work harder than most beaglers. It was out of the question for my Dad to go out and buy double mated puppies or good field champion bitches to breed. His biggest joy was fox hunting. When I was old enough to walk, I can remember a pack of at least 25 to 35 fox hounds with a few beagles sprinkled in for rabbit hunting. So literally, from the time I could walk and talk, it was hounds and hunting 24/7. My Dad knew quite a few people in the dog business and to mention a few were Doc Skinner, Dave Moorhead and Joe Freed. Joe was a grand ole fella who took a liking to me and wanted me to ride with him to the Southern Federation in the spring of 1968. Can you imagine a Mom today letting her 11 year old son travel over 700 miles to GA with a man she hardly knew. My Mom was the greatest and she was the glue that kept us together.
We stayed the week with Glen and Shirley Hamrick. They became wonderful friends to me through the years. Joe and I pulled into Lookout Beagle Club the next morning and I was like a kid in a candy store. Joe introduced me to George Nixon, Leo Sosnowski, J.W. Kidd, Jim Watson, and the list goes on. It was like a smorgasbord of all the greatest beaglers in beagling and Papa Joe knew them all! That same summer I rode with O.T. Bailey helping him train and handle. I’ll always remember my first blue ribbon handling for O.T. It was at Pocono BC, July 1968, and I won the 13” Females with Pates Naughty Nancy in a class of 174, which was a very exciting moment. That same summer at Carlisle BC, the first Barren Run champion finished. Star won a class of 76 13” females under Roland Scherer and Bill Borst. She was sired by Ray Millers little stud dog, Woodland Artist. I rode with O.T. 2 more summers until Papa Joe brokered a deal with C.M. “Catnip” Jordan. I rode 3 summers with Catnip training and handling from PA to NC. My last summer of school vacation, I rode with Curt Blinsinger (AKA the Legend). Willard Cobb always told Curt he was really a legend in his own mind! The spring of 1972 was very memorable. I judged my first license trial at Rockland County BC. I was 15 years old, the youngest person to ever judge a license field trial in beagling history. That same spring, I won the 13” Derby males at the Eastern federation under Bubba Estes and Les Cammauf.
Dave Moorhead asked me to drive him out to the International in the Spring if 1974; and of course, I said yes, as Dave was a very good friend. On the drive out I never would have imagined in 10 lifetimes that history was going to be made. “But it happened”, I entered my 13” female Barren Run Charmin at Imperial BC and was braced with George Nixon in first series. We had a really good run and I beat George. They had me back in the high brace and after the smoke cleared, I beat Winston (Coach) Brown in second series and won the class. Meanwhile, my younger brother Billy was winning the 15” females with Charmin’s littermate sister, Starks Countess at Coraopolis BC. This was definitely a once in a lifetime feat. Littermate sisters owned by brothers won both female classes at the IBF. This is an accomplishment that has never been repeated before or since in the history of the IBF. Charmin and Countess were sired by a male Doc Skinner offered at stud at the time, Connell’s Checkmate.
The very next spring of 1975, I went to the Eastern Federation and entered a 15”F, Barren Run Pirita. I was braced with one of Snake Wilson’s females in first series and had a really good run. She was back in the high brace with Nelson’s Missy II, she was a littermate to Close Call Chico and Raikes Hill Timmy. Snake had Missy on his truck and we had an outstanding run in the high brace with Pirita getting the nod. Not many beaglers, if any, can say they beat Snake Wilson twice in the same day to win the futurity class. I’m very proud that I won a couple futurities, a derby winners stake, finished 3 dogs and judged a few license trials before I was 19. Then reality set in, I had to go and find a real 40 hr a week job to secure my future. Hallelujah, I was able to find a couple jobs over the years ands still found time to continue my passion for beagling.
I’ve been fortunate enough to judge hounds in 15 different states, including the Eastern, Northeastern, numerous Field Champion state championships and winners stakes. It’s been 7 decades campaigning and competing with the Barren Run hounds. I’ve finished dogs on both coasts. Russ Grove owned property in CA, and he handled dogs for me on the CA circuit. They’ve won numerous license, Futurity and Derby winner stakes, Field Champion trials, National Brace Championships and Beagling’s Extravaganza. The best one was Beagling’s Super Bowl, The ABBA/Purina Award with Barren Run Lady Velvet!
I’ve had the good fortune to be inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame in 2002. I currently have 6 dogs in the Producing Sire and Dam Hall of Fame. They are Close Call Colt Forty Five, Carolina Mr Dillon, Barren Run Miss Maud, Barren Run Eva Marie, Bun-E-Line Flame, and Bun-E-Line Billie Jean. A Big Thank You goes out to my good friend, the late great Larry Adams for having the confidence in me to keep his Bun-E-Line family alive. It is currently at 12 consecutive generations of Field Champion females. The Barren Run bitch line is currently at 6 generations. I think the single hardest feat to achieve in any sport is the “Triple Crown”, whether it be baseball, thoroughbred racing, or beagling. You have to be proficient in all 3 phases; as a Breeder I have bred 81 champions; as a Competitor, I have finished 55; as a judge, I have done 175 license trials. There’s been thousands of beaglers come and go in the history of our sport. Less than 20 of these beaglers have ever equaled or surpassed these Triple Crown numbers. I am super proud of this accomplishment.
In closing, I want to thank all my old beagling buddies, past and present who were with me as my friends and mentors along this amazing journey. It is an incredible feeling.
Yours in beagling,
Raymond
