Judging the National Championship ~ Podcast Interview with Dr. Dorwin Hawthorne
During the 2012 National Championship, Dr. Terry Terlep introduced me to Dr. Dorwin Hawthorne from Inola, Oklahoma. Dr. Hawthorne and I sat for a while in his truck at a road crossing waiting for the field trial party to come by. During that time, he talked to me about the qualities he sought in a dog when he judged the National Championship. He first judged it in 1976 the year Miller’s White Cloud won it with Hoyle Eaton handling. Dr. Hawthorne went on to judge the stake from 1987 through 2002…a total of 16 times!
Dr. Hawthorne has had a long and distinguished involvement with field trials. He attended his first trial in 1958 and only two years later was instrumental in the approval of the Oklahoma Open Championship. He was also involved in extending the invitation to the American Field Quail Futurity to use to the McFarlin-Ingersoll Ranch venue near Inola. A permanent home was established on those grounds for the Oklahoma Championship. Dr. Hawthorne was key to the building of the clubhouse, kennels and stalls and other facilities on the grounds.
In the late 1960s, Dr. Hawthorne campaigned several notable dogs like Doctor’s Stormy Mack with Bud Epperson, Saladin and, his favorite, the great champion and producer Buckboard with Bud Daugherty. Buckboard won the Purina Top Dog Award in 1977 and went into the Hall of Fame in 1983.
Dr. Hawthorne judged field trials around the country from the prairies to Texas and Colorado to Georgia. He served as president of the AFTCA Region 8, then later Trustee for that region. He has served for many years as a director of the National Field Trial Champion Association. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Many thanks to him for taking the time to speak to me. Sixteen years…he presided over many a great one!
Dr. Hawthorne with fellow judges Joe Hurdle and Dick Dumas during the 1976 National Championship.
1987 National Championship with Whippoorwill’s Rebel posed by handler Tommy Davis and Wally Davis. Standing: John Cline, judges Dr. D. E. Hawthorne, Dr. Frank S. McKnight, and Nathan Cottrell; and Andy Cline.
1995 National Championship. From left Dr. Jim Anderson, Dr. Frank McKnight and judges Dr. D. E. Hawthorne, Freddie Epp, and Nathan Cottrell. Lipan, handled by Gary Pinalto, went on to win.
2002 winner Miller’s True Spirit posed by handler Ferrel Miller and Gary Lester. Standing from left: judge Dr. D. E. Hawthorne, J. D. Boss, and judges Charlie Frank Bryan, Jim White. Field Trial Dignitaries.
HOF Ch. Buckboard by John Donaldson
Also check our previous interview with another long-time judge of the National Championship, Nathan Cottrell
