Hall of Fame

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hall of fame nominee

Gary Trout

Gary Trout was born December 17th, 1953, in Richwood, West Virginia. He has resided on the family farm until present day. Gary and his father Edgel 's farm was always in the cattle and swine production. Gary graduated from high school in 1971. In 1973, Gary married his wife Connie. They have one son, Barry who is a master electrician.

Barry is employed by the company Easy Solutions and lives in Pennsboro, West Virginia. Connie's role-played integral part in raising pups and caring for the beagles with Gary. Connie took care of the beaglers at Mountain State Beagle Club by cooking them dinners until she had to retire due to failing health.

After graduating from high school, Gary obtained a job in the coal mining industry. He worked 18.5 years underground operating various types of equipment. In 1986, Gary went to work for The United Mine Workers of America. He worked his way through the ranks to become Vice President of District 17. He also became a member of the International Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America before retiring with 31 years of service. Gary was the regional director for the states of West Virgina Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, and Alabama. Gary's role in the mining industry was extensive. He had the responsibility of overseeing the recovery and

investigation of the Sego Mining Disaster in Buckhannon, West Virginia. This disaster occurred on January of 2006. 13 miners were trapped for two days and only one survived. Gary for the past six years has served on the Board of Directors of the West Virgina State Fair. From 2023 through 2025 he was the chairman of the fair.

Garys introduction to our sport began at the age of 14. His father, Edgel and his friend, Fred Meckes took him to his first field trial. It was a qualifying trial for the West Virgina Association of Winner Stake.

Watching the gallery, yelling "Tally-ho" and the hounds running the rabbits was a treat. It was captivating to him. After attending additional trials in 1974 Gary bought his first beagle, Middletown Beth. She was by FD CH Wind Creek Limbo. Gary breed her to FD CH Rockdale Amos. From this mating, in 1976 Gary finished his first FD CH Trout Valley Mitzie. She finished in five trails with only three wins. He was hooked. She produced her first litter FD CH Birch Valley Charm who also finished in three trails and won the Mid Dixie handled by Ray Dolan.

In 1972, Gary joined his first beagle club, Richwood. In mid 1980's Gary started judging sanction trails in West Virginia which led him to judge today over 100 licensed trails in several states. He has judged the Heartland, Eastern, International, and Mid Dixie federations. Gary is a member of Mountain State and Southern Ohio Beagle Clubs. He has served as the president of the West Virginia

Association. As a member of the Mountain State he has been Vice President, Field Trial Secretary and on the board of directors and the Mid Dixie Board of Directors.

In 2009, Gary was inducted into the National Brace Beagling Breeders Hall of Fame! Gary's success in the competitive part of our sport is noteworthy. He has bred fifty champions and owned hounds that have achieved the title of Field Champion to approximately 30. Trout Valley Special is the Fountain Head of his Bitch line with five consecutive generations of Field Champion Females and currently working on the 6th generation.

A special Thank You goes to three individuals that shared their knowledge and guidance about the sport which led to his success. NI Kidd and Pete Proctor taught him what to look for in a hound for trials and breeding. Tim Beck helped Gary with healthcare tips and advice on vaccinating puppies. To this day, Gary and his family are members of the

Eureka Methodist Church and continues his family legacy in the cattle production field. Gary's accomplishments in his private life are significant. His integrity and humility and sincere dedication to our sport warrants him as a worthy candidate for our sports Highest Honor in the Beagling Hall of Fame.

Gary would like to thank all his beagling friends for all their help and friendship over the years. These individuals have handled and transported his hounds that enabled him to compete in our sport. Without each and every one of his friends he would not have been able to obtain the success he has had. Gary has participated and promoted the sport of beagling in numerous endeavors.

hall of fame nominee

Greg Marsh

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, 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.

Since Greg’s semi-retirement, he has been very active in starting and training pups for many of our Northern neighbors. His milder climate has allowed him to continue training even in the winter months which is extremely important to Northern beaglers, keeping the hounds ready for the spring events. This is something he loves to do and has accomplished many successes over the years.

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 Hall of Fame.

hall of fame nominee

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.

Yours in beagling,

Ron Gray and daughter, Danette

hall of fame nominee

Ben Smith

0n a personal note, Ben was born and raised in Southeastern Pennsylvania, finished high school and married his high school sweetheart, Shirley in July 1957 and has been married for 69 years. Ben and Shirley were blessed with 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren to date.

Ben’s beagling career started when he met Guy LeFever in 1965 and he invited Ben to attend a sanction trial at Lanco Beagle Club, which he gladly accepted and attended. Like many beaglers, Ben was a rabbit hunter prior to field trials and he took his 2 hunting dogs and entered them in the trial and did not make 2nd Series. From there, he attended Lanco’s trials every month for a year, beating brush, marshaling, and observed/learned what he could and then proceeded to become a member and joined Lanco. During his time there, he attended work parties brush cutting, plowing, planting, and other beagle club tasks. Ben judged his first sanction trial with Les Cammauf and learned a lot. Les was inducted into the Brace Beagling Hall of Fame in 1996 and Guy was inducted in 2010; and they became good friends and teachers through the years sharing their knowledge with Ben; as he attended many sanction trials, judged derby trials and wore out several pairs of boots. Ben judged his first license trial with Guy LeFever, which has become a long-lasting friendship and journey.

From that point on, Ben judged many license trials all over the country from New York, Pennsylvania to Mississippi, Illinois to New Jersey, and many states in between and continues to judge trials at Catawba County now and again. Ben has judged over 400 trials and there were many more; but records weren’t kept for all of the 90’s, 80’s 70’s, etc.

Ben and Shirley relocated from Lancaster County to York County in 1978 due to his work. Ben then joined York and Adams Beagle Club where he spent 20 or more years. While at the club, he held many offices, including President. In addition to this he served on the Board of Directors at the Southern and the Mid Dixie. Ben worked the grounds, cut brush, farmed food plots, built raising pen, trapped and stocked rabbits, marshaled and used vacation to mow before license trial. He had some help from 2 or 3 men on fence building and the rest he did himself. In the end, another beagling group took over the beagle club. After that Ben then joined the Maryland Beagle Club and cared for the grounds there.

After leaving Maryland and moving to North Carolina, Ben joined Catawba County Beagle Club and still belongs there. Ben again started caring for the grounds and continued for several years on his own until father time caught up with him and he had to step down. Though he was no longer able to do the work, it humbled him and he was grateful for the opportunity to do all he could for beagling.

Through the years Ben and Shirley have had some success with their Major Hill Beagles. Though they weren’t diligent with detailed hound records, Ben and Shirley bred approximately 12 field champions. They won several Federations and some more than once. They were fortunate enough to win the 13” Female Futurity Class and their true highlight came in 2016 when they won the Purina Top AKC Brace Beagle Award with Major Hill Miss Adri! Ben and Shirley finished approximately 20 Field Champions and worked very hard through the years to meet their goals.

All and all brace beagling has been a good choice for their hobby. They met many Great people through the years and made many friends all over the country. The friendship, help and support through the years has been greatly appreciated. Ben has worked very hard for our sport as an individual, on the club level, and has been a true asset to the sport of beagling on all levels, which makes him a very worthy candidate for the Hall of Fame.

“In closing, I would like to thank the Hall of Fame members for their consideration and nomination in making the Final Four and good luck to all the Nominees!”

Yours in the Sport,

Ben and Lynette

hall of fame HOUND nominee

FD. CH. Sunshine Candid

Fd. Ch. Sunshine Candid was one of seven champions out of Fd. Ch. Chandler Hill Sunshine and Fd. Ch. Sunshine Charity. Both her sire and dam are in the Hall of Fame. I measure my dogs by their performance, their producing results, and their ability to have and raise pups. My best ones have excelled in all three categories, and Candid certainly fits that description.

Candid finished quickly and went on to win and place in numerous Federation events. She is the only female I have owned to win three consecutive field champion trials. She won the Eastern, International, and Northeastern in succession. At the Eastern, she ran three times and never had the front. At the International, she came back high from the back and defeated her sister, Fd. Ch. Sunshine Chastity, to win. She then went on to win the Northeastern. The net result was to win the Outstanding Field Champion award that year.

Candid ran in numerous sanctioned trials for many years and was very consistent, never changing her system. Probably her most notable sanctioned win was winning the Southern Classic at Iodine State Beagle Club. However, her biggest contribution was helping me train puppies. She was a great puppy trainer. I used her more than any other dog for that purpose. She didn’t “just sit in the kennel”!

Candid also had great success raising puppies. She whelped 18 puppies and raised them all. She was a good “mama”. Six of these finished and two of them were NFC. Sunshine Crybaby and Fd. Ch. Carolina Mr. Dillion. These two passed the linage on really well. Crybaby produced 10 and already is in the Hall of Fame. Mr. Dillion has sired 39 champions out of only 22 litters. Also, I think Mr. Dillon is the only sire to produce two Purina Dog of the Year winners. He was the best producing male raised by me.

Candid is also the grand dam of Bub’s A&P Dolittle who is an outstanding performer and has already produced 34 champions. So, the linage is there!

It’s hard to say whether Candid, Crybaby, or Charity brought more to Brace Beagling and my kennel but, without Charity there would be no Candid, and without Candid there would be no Crybaby. Charity and Crybaby are in the Hall of Fame. I think Candid’s performance and producing ability also makes her a worthy candidate for the Hall of Fame.

Yours in beagling,

Pete Proctor

hall of fame HOUND nominee

Tim Tam Tidy

Tim Tam Tidy was out of Sire, Brushy Fork Currahee and her dam was Tim Tam Talcum. She finished with her 3rd Win at Central Association in 2014 and was the 18th Field Champion for handlers, Bob and Lynette Coil and her littermate, Tim Tam Therapy was #20 that year and finished with 7 Wins.

Tim Tam beagles originated with Bob Kallmeyer in Kentucky and when he came to a trial, his hounds were a force to reckon with. Bob was a very devoted, dedicated and hard working beagler who always put his dogs first. He was a very successful breeder and had many field champions, such as Tim Tam Tidy, Tafi, Taltz, Topper, Tekla, Therapy, Talcum, Tattler, Tija, Tony, Woodlake Patience, Wood Lake Princess, etc. Bob had belonged to Bluegrass, Honeybee, Lookout, and Cherokee beagle clubs. Bob helped many people through the years; and when he made the connection with Preston Greenwalt, he tapped into the Tim Tam bloodline and was ultimately put on the map and became close friends. We lost Bob in April 2023, and Preston took the dogs and cared for them for the duration and their championships.

Tim Tam Tidy went into the ABBA Producing Dam Hall of Fame in 2018 as did her mother, Tim Tam Talcum, which was Bob’s 17th Field Champion bred at the Tim Tam kennel. Bob Kallmeyer went into the Breeders Hall of Fame in 2010, and Preston Greenwalt went into the Breeder Hall of Fame in 2022.

Tam Tidy carried on the producing success which produced Eight Field Champions and enhanced her pedigree. The following are her Field Champions:

The first litter Tim Tam Tidy and Surefoot Little James were 4 Females and 1 Male and produced 2: Tim Tam Tija and Nejan Farm McKinley

The 2nd mating between Tim Tam Tidy and Bee Lick Braveheart was 4 Females and 2 Males that produced 4: Tim Tam Tekla, Tim Tam Topper, Woodlake Patience and Woodlake Princess

Tim Tam Tidy and Turtle Creek Dr Einstein produced Turtle Creek Classy

Tim Tam Tidy and Charita’s Mr Lucas produced Turtle Creek Twin Eagle Hotwire

As Tidy always tried to give you her best, she was a steady, straight, calm, flat and accurate female who made a lasting impression on many fellow beaglers when she ran. She passed on these positive traits to her pups no matter who she was bred to, as you can see by her producing record. She has shown from her record and accomplishments that she is a worthy candidate for the Brace Beagling Hall of Fame.

We thank the Hall of Fame members for their nomination as one of the final four and we hope to have your consideration. We wish all the nominee's good luck, as it is a tough and very worthy panel.

Yours in beagling,

Lynette Coil

hall of fame HOUND nominee

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

hall of fame HOUND nominee

Indian Trail Medicineman

Indian Trail Medicineman was purchased as a puppy by Ken Backus. His sire was Saltsprings Bronson and his dam was Tag-A-Long Good Faith, Breeder was the late Hall of Fame member Paul Davis.

Many would say Medicineman was a nice running hound and completely non-competitive. He got your attention and turned some heads when performing. Ray Dolan trained him and after finishing started studding him. There were good reports in regard to the pups from Ken Backus, Ray Dolan and Al Janak. Medicineman went out to Texas so he was available to Janak, Childers, Welch, to breed and then proceeded to be at stud with Pete Proctor in North Carolina. In the first five litters in North Carolina his pups had 39 License Wins and there were many Field Champions in the South. We thank the beaglers out East, Mike Rowe, Guy LeFever, Preston Greenwalt, Robert Kallmeyer, Chris Lehneis, etc for their faith and proof. We know Medicineman produced well over 30+ Field Champions and was a positive contributor to our sport of beagling. We thank everyone who believed in his positive assets/traits; and proved what he put into his puppies that ended up improving and contributing to beagling. Medicineman ended up being in the top 10 on the Top Producing Stud Dog Guide. An individual knows they made the right choice when they breed their female to a hound and those pups proceed to produce and perform, which was proven many times.

We can’t name them all but here are some of his Field Champions and others that went on to produce, perform, etc. The first female was Dolan’s Sierra and she produced (7) and the 2nd female was Tall Tale Charity, J-Line Josiah, Sunshine Marietta, Bub’s A&P DoLittle, Turtle Creek Dr Einstein, Sunshine Southern Comfort, Chandler Hill Lonely Teardrop, Dolan’s Sacajewea, Mainstream Miley, Dolan’s Cherokee, Logan Run Chaz, Sunshine Christie, Cotton Belt Wampee II, Cotton Belt Little Medicineman, Tanglewood Rusty II, Tall Tale Pocahontas, Bub’s Speckle Hawk, Bub’s Black Hawk, Sunshine Ashlyn, Turtle Creek Dr. Rowe, Astrology Run Hazel Grace, Arapahoe Storm Cloud and others. As you can see, Medicineman put his stamp on pups with the females bred to him.

We thank the Hall of Fame members for their nomination as one of the final four and we hope to have your consideration. We wish all the nominees good luck as everyone, is a worthy candidate.

I want to thank Ray Dolan for his input and help in doing this write up.

Lynette Coil