2025 Hall of Fame Nominees

  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 HALL OF FAME NOMINEES!

The four Beagler Hall of Fame Nominees are:

Raymond Brantner 

Doby Gray

Greg Marsh

Wayne Plemmons 

The four Hall of Fame Hound Nominees are:

Mon Valley Dakota B

Bee Lick Braveheart 

Steeler Town Sunkissed

Sunshine Crybaby 

Write Ups are to be submitted to Hounds and Hunting by July 1, 2024 to be published and ballots made and submitted to ABBA for publication and ballots printed.

In order to vote for the Hall of Fame you need to be a subscriber to Hounds and Hunting or be a member of ABBA.

We thank Hounds and Hunting for sponsoring the Beagling Hall of Fame.  CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

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 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 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 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 winnerstakes. 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! In 2025 won the ABBA/Purina Derby Award with Barren Run Eva Darlin who had 2 Wins and placed in every federation but one. 

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 86 champions; as a Competitor, I have finished 57; 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. In 2024 the American Kennel Club presented me the AKC Breeder Hound Award, which there are only 6 people that have received the award. I am super proud of these accomplishments.
 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

  Josephine "Doby" Gray

A Life Devoted to Beagling 

Josephine Gray, affectionately known as Doby, was born in 1942 in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. A proud graduate of Jeannette High School, she completed her studies in 1960 and went on to earn her license in Beauty School. It was during high school that Doby met the love of her life, Ron Gray. They married in 1961 and went on to build a beautiful family, raising three children: Danette, Ronnie Jr., and Christina.

In 1969, Doby joined Ron in what would become a lifelong passion—Beagling. Their very first field trial took place at Beaver Valley Beagle Club, where they won, sealing their fate as lifelong beaglers. From that moment on, Doby was all in. She not only attended countless trials but became deeply involved in every aspect of the sport.

Over the years, Doby made a remarkable impact in the Beagling community:

· Judged 33 Licensed Brace Trials, including Champion, Derby, Sanction, and Club Trials

· Held numerous leadership roles in various beagling organizations

· Field Trial Chairman – Coraopolis Beagle Club

· Field Trial Secretary/Treasurer – Tri-State Association

· Pennsylvania Beagling Officer for four years

· Master of Ceremony for the International Beagle Federation (IBF) for two years

· Inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame in 2007

· Inducted into the Tri-State Hall of Fame in 2010

Her competitive achievements are just as impressive:

· 9-time winner of the Pennsylvania State Championship

· 2-time winner of the National Championship

· Won the 13” Futurity Female Class at Federal events with Gray’s Dove and Gray’s Dot

· Finished 39 AKC Champions

· Sold 10 puppies that went on to become champions

· Placed 2,068 times in various field trials

· Started many puppies for friends and fellow beaglers

In addition to her trial and breeding success, Doby was the heart of the kitchen at the Coraopolis Beagle Club, where she began working in 1969. For 56 years, she made sure no one ever went hungry at a club trial, never missing an event to provide breakfast and lunch to the participants.

After retiring from her job at the airport in 2014, Doby turned her focus to whelping puppies—a role she had quietly mastered since 1970 with her own litters. It became a true passion and a treasured hobby. As word spread of her skill and care, beaglers from 15 different states brought their bitches to Doby, trusting her implicitly. Between her own dogs and those she helped for others, she whelped an extraordinary 152 litters and delivered 754 puppies.

In 2024, due to changing state regulations, Doby retired from her beloved whelping work. Her legacy, however, continues to live on through the many champions she helped raise, the people she supported, and the community she helped build.

Doby Gray’s life is a testament to dedication, heart, and unwavering commitment to the world of Beagling—a true icon in the field and a beloved figure to all who know her.

As you can see, Doby constantly displays her integrity, dedication and deep respect for the sport of Beagling. Her lifelong commitment and countless contributions have shaped the community in meaningful ways. We thank the Hall of Fame members for their support and recognition of what a worthy candidate and honor Doby is as a Nominee; and appreciate the beagling community for their support in honoring her legacy.

Greg Marsh was born on August 6, 1952, to Innes and Sue Marsh, founders of the Honey Bee Beagle Club. With hounds running through his veins, Greg’s passion for beagles began early. He started competing in field trials at just 14 years old, and by 1970, he had joined the Honey Bee Beagle Club, where his lifelong journey in the sport continued.

After high school, Greg entered the workforce at a cabinet shop in Cincinnati, where he quickly proved his skills. By 1981, he became a partner in the business, and in 1990, he sold his share to start his own company in Falmouth, Kentucky, where he lived. Partnering with his brother, Greg grew the business until 2017, when he became its sole owner. Today, his cabinet shop remains a successful, thriving business.

Greg met his wife, Vicki, in 1984, and they married on August 23, 1985. Together, they raised five wonderful daughters, all of whom are college graduates. Greg is also an active presence in the lives of his nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Despite his accomplishments outside of the hound world, Greg’s true passion lies in the beagle sport. He has judged over 200 licensed trials, including the prestigious Iams trials, and has officiated for all the federations except the Mid Dixie and Northeastern, which he had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.

Greg's leadership in the sport has been equally impressive. He served as President of the Heartland Federation twice, playing a pivotal role in its foundation and growth. He dedicated countless hours to ensure its success. Greg has also been President of the Midwestern Federation, served on the boards of both the Heartland and Midwestern Federations, and held every office at the Honey Bee Beagle Club. Additionally, he has served as Vice President and Field Trial Secretary of the Bluegrass Beagle Club along with serving as secretary and President of the Central Association.

Greg has had an extraordinary impact on the sport of beagle breeding. He has bred 20 field champions and finished 36. Three of his bitches have been inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame, and he considers his best bitch to be Old Style Laramie.

Away from the spotlight, Greg can often be found in the evenings working with his dogs on his farm, just above his home. A dedicated rabbit farmer, Greg ensures his hounds have the best care and training possible. He is deeply committed to the sport, always considering how his decisions can benefit the future of the beagle community.

It is an honor to be nominated with this panel from the Hall of Fame Members. Considering all of Greg’s accomplishments and devotion to our sport for over 55 years, Greg is a most deserving and worthy candidate for beagling’s highest honor, the Beagling  

  Wayne was born Jan. 3, 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 difficult for his grandmother to control and was sent to live with his parents in Western North Carolina – a community he still resides 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 in a night class; they have been married 54 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.  Mr. Angel 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. Mr. Angel 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 23 field champions that he did not breed.  Wayne has bred a total of 53 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, was 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 of all, the fellowship and camaraderie of his fellow beaglers.

Being nominated as a candidate for the Beagling Hall of Fame is a great honor for Wayne, a man who has devoted himself to the participation in promotion of Brace Beagling. He has truly shown his support, determination, and dedication to our sport through the years and is a very worthy candidate for beagling’s highest honor.

On a personal note, Wayne says, "I'd like to thank the Hall of Fame members who nominated me to be included with such impressive candidates. There are so many great people in the beagling community; being nominated 3 years in a row is a real honor. I believe that beagling has been the most difficult task I have ever attempted to be successful at. If I had put in the time, thought, and effort into my other endeavors, I might be a multi-millionaire. However, even after all these years, when I see a dog perform an outstanding run, it excites and thrills me - and when it is mine, wow!"

Bee Lick Braveheart was born 11-11-11.  He is sired by Fd. Ch. Surefoot Diamond and his dam is Bee Lick B Classy.  There were three pups in the litter and Bee Lick Prime Time also finished.

Braveheart won his first National Championship before his first birthday on 10/28/12.  He won his 2nd National Championship in 2014.  Braveheart won the ABBA/Purina Derby Award in 2013.  In 2014 he won the Field Champion Award and again in 2015 he repeated and won the Field Champion Award.  As you can see, Braveheart had quite a record as a performer.  

As a Producer, Braveheart has produced 60 plus Field Champions.  Out of his first few litters he produced at least one pup in each litter who won a license trial.   He had 30 Champions in these 30 litters!

I want to thank Max Steffan for taking care of Braveheart in his last few years.  I believe Braveheart has proven what a worthy candidate for the Hall of Fame he is.  We thank the Hall of Fame Members for their nomination of Bee Lick Braveheart.

  NFC FCB SUNSHINE CRYBABY

I have been blessed with several good females over the years and have been asked many times which one was my favorite. Well, Sunshine Crybaby is the one. This choice was based on more than her trial performance.  I also considered producing, puppy raising, and kennel manners. She excelled in all these areas.

Sunshine Crybaby was a very consistent high performer for many years. She finished her championship quickly and went on to win the Purina/ABBA Field Champion award and also won the National Brace Championship. The National had 64 starters and she came back high and defeated a kennel mate in second series. She also won the female class at the Southern Memorial Classic at Iodine State and consistently placed at several other national and local events. Crybaby was sired by Lewis’ Carolina Zee Zee Top and FC Sunshine Candid. Incidentally, Candid also won the Purina/ABBA Champion award the prior year.

Although Crybaby’s performance was very good, it was surpassed by her producing results. She produced 10 FC’s from four litters of pups from three different stud dogs.  Her most notable champions were Bub’s A&P Dolittle, Logan Run Chaz, Sunshine Calypso, and Sunshine Lonesome Sam. DoLittle has been one of the leading stud dogs for several years and has already produced 34 field champions.  Mostly through Do Little and Chaz, she has been a mainstay for my kennel and an asset to Brace Beagling overall.

Sunshine Crybaby was an absolute pleasure to own. She was quiet in the kennel and raised every puppy she had without help. She also took other pups that needed a foster mother.  In her first litter I didn’t put her into a whelping kennel soon enough. She had three pups before I caught my mistake. She bailed me out by raising those three plus two more after I moved her. She was always very healthy, never needed a vet and was never in a kennel fight. She also spent many hours helping me train other puppies.

I believe Sunshine Crybaby’s essential qualities--- Excellence in the field, a superb producer and a nurturing mom with agreeable kennel manners make her very deserving to be elected to the Brace Beagling Hall of Fame.

  F.C. Mon Valley Dakota B

DOB: 1/11/2003

Sire: F.C. Kidds Marker

Dam: Mon Valley Diana Rose

Breeder: Tim Beck

Owner: H.J. Ford, Jr.

Finished: 02/15/2006

Dakota B ran in 22 trials and finished with 6 wins. Bob Coil handled him to his championship at Cross Creek. His littermate was F.C. Mon Valley Marker B which was also a fine hound.

Dakota B was the best staying and check hound I have ever owned. J.W. Kidd said he had “the patience of Job” on a check. Dakota B passed many of these traits on to his pups.

Pete Proctor was the first to breed to Dakota B to F.C. Sunshine Candace. Out of the first litter of 4, 3 females finished and were outstanding hounds. Sunshine Calamity, Cassidy, and Charity.

Dakota B sired 33 litters of pups. I believe that was 110 pups. Out of those pups 23 finished which is an excellent percentage.

My final thought is Dakota B was an excellent hound and produced very good pups that kept on producing and passing on the stay and check hound work we all wanted.

Dakota B is a very worthy candidate for beagling's highest honor, the Hall of Fame.

H.J. Ford

  FC Steeler Town Sunkissed 

Steeler Town Sunkissed was born in November 2007 at the Bee Lick Kennel. Just after Dad and I got her started, Niki was starting the Steeler Town kennel name. There were two Lemon and White females in the litter out of Close Call C-Span and Bee Lick Candy Kiss. Dad and I were training them one day, and Dad said why don't you give Niki the best one to get her started.

That was the beginning and not only was Sunkissed a great performer, but she also won three Futurity classes, plus placed 3rd and NBQ.

She was bred three times and produced eight field champions. There aren't many females who produce that well and perform as well as she did. Not many females have won three Futurity classes.

I believe this makes her a worthy candidate for the Hall of Fame!

Marty and Wayne Parker