A LOVING
TRIBUTE
(IN APPRECIATION
TO TWO PEOPLE WHO MEAN SO MUCH TO US........)
Any success we have had in German Shepherd Dogs is
due to the good genetics entrusted to us by Fran and Joan Ford. Their
breeding program, spanning 4 decades, with the same bloodline is testament to their
dogs genetic value.
Fran and Joan began their breeding program with
the best bitch available to them. Leased from Joe and Charlotte LaRosa,
Elsa was a substantial bitch with an excellent shoulder and a hard driving
rear. After much study and at the recommendation of Lucy Woodard, Fran and
Joan decided to breed Elsa to Sel Ch Fortune of Arbywood (a distant
linebreeding on Axel VD Deininghauserheide).
In that litter were several good puppies; but
being relatively new to breeding all but two puppies were sold into companion
homes. The two that the Ford's kept were named Lance and Lonie.
Both finished their championships on the same day just short of their second
birthday.... owner handled by Fran. Lance went on to an exciting
specials career which culminated in his being named Grand Victor in both the
United States and Canada . Lonie went into her own very
successful career in the whelping box.
GV Lance was no slouch as a producer either....
Under the expert guidance of Fran and Joan, Lance produced the most
outstanding animals the breed had ever seen. Especially good animals
came from breeding to Berndt V Kallengarten daughters as witnessed by his
great son GV Ch Mannix of Fran-Jo. Lance quickly became the top producing ROM
sire. And today every American showline German Shepherd Dog owes a great
deal of his/her heritage to Lance.
That would have been phenomenal in itself but Fran
and Joan kept producing top National class dogs for 4 more decades. Not
only that, but they mentored many breeders through the years that owe their
success to Fran and Joan Ford. I am very blessed to have been just one
mentored by them.
Joan passed away on March 14, 2007 after a long hard
fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Her courage is that of legend as
she battled that terrible disease. I believe she fought so hard, not for
herself but for Fran, her children Frank and Carol, many Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren
and the legion of friends who loved her...and still do.
Fran still has 5 German Shepherd Dogs as of this
writing. He enjoys taking care of them, his home and yard. Even
though he still has top quality dogs he has chosen not to show or breed dogs
for awhile.
Fran does however, still enjoys judging
the breed he admires so much.
I owe them more than I could ever repay.
But they have my love.