Tom Fife

[Steve Ralph]

Nomination of Thomas J Fife
To the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame

I would like to nominate Thomas J. Fife (TOM) to the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame.

Tom was one of the founding members of the Southern Kansas Brittany Club, that he helped get started in 1957 and is still a member. Tom, along with help from Marvin Nelson, Sr., Delmar Smith, Bob Rouse, Tom Black (Towsey’s owner), Richard Graves, Doug Sawtell, Vern Hager, Freddy Vulgamore, Harry Galbraith and John Smith, worked hard to meet all qualifications to hold a “license” trial.

During the past years, he brought in many new members. He has supported the club tirelessly with his time and even built the outhouse and the dog wagon at his own expense. He mentored many members even to the point of breaking their dogs and helping to trial and run them.

Tom should be recognized for his contributions to help other field trials and their dogs, such as; Rob Martin and his dog FC Noah Count Jack, Cecil Duncan and his dogs FC Padro and FC Lady, Herb Rea and his dog FC Spanky, Larry Hagedorn and his dog Westfield Simmental Sam, Sherry Heinel (Hamption) and her dog FC Zack, Richard Steckley and his dogs Sammy and Ninnescah Nicole. His influence has helped so many.

Tom was instrumental in obtaining Kansas field trial grounds in Wellington, Sedan, Medicine Lodge and the John Floyd Ranch.

Tom has held several officer positions, not only in the Southern Kansas Brittany club, but also of various National events including:

Field Trial Secretary, 1968 Brittany Gun Dog National & Futurity (Ardmore, OK)
Field Trial Secretary, 1968 Quail Classic (Stillwater, OK)
Field Trial Chairman, 1968 Brittany Nationals (Ardmore, OK)
Field Trial Chairman, 1970 Brittany Gun Dog Nationals (Ardmore, OK)
Judge, 1976 Brittany National Amateur Championship (Ardmore, OK)
Stakes Manager, 1978 Brittany Nationals (1st year in Booneville, AR)

Tom has trained and handled many Brittanys and Pointers. His first win was in 1963 with a dog called Bingo. Bingo later became what Tom called his 9 point Field Champion. Bingo died at an early age before he could finish him. Others include Trooper’s BB, Bingo’s SuzieQ, FC Fife’s Billy, FC Billy’s JR and a pointer named Snowbird. Snow is a runner-up champion that produced a pointer named Ninnescah Nicole owned by Dr. Richard Steckley, which is currently leading the Purina Top Shooting Dog Award Standings (as of April 2011).

At the age of 87, Tom resides in Winfield, KS with his lovely wife Claudia. He is not only a fine gentleman and sportsman, he has been and still is an inspiration to so many others. Tom has always felt that Field Trials should be a social event and to provide hospitality to all.

He still lives by a code that has helped him through being in a foxhole fighting for our country, to training birds and other life’s challenges:

To be a man no matter where,
To be the best that I can let that stand,
A record of my brain in hand,
To walk undaunted and unafraid,
Of any steps that I have made,
And then a failure comes to me,
To work and hope and pray for victory to come my way.

My memories of Tom Fife:
I first met Tom in the late 60s when my brother in-law bought a little Brittany female for us to hunt. After hunting her a year or two, he decided to raise puppies. He had seen Tom's dogs in a pen by the house and asked Tom about breeding to Bingo. After hearing us talk about what a nice hunting dog Freckles was, he asked to see her papers; her mother’s name was Lady Beth Towsey! Tom immediately said yes! When the puppies were about 6 months old, Tom invited us to a fun trial and then to a regional trial and then to run the dog wagon. He then asked me to be the field trial chairman and made me a list of responsibilities, helping me in every way.

Tom was a true giver to this sport. He broke three dogs for me, two of which made Field and Amateur Champions, Dunk’s Lucky Ladie and Dunk's Padro. He not only broke them he hauled them to trials and even kept them at his house sometimes. If it hadn't been for Tom Fife, I would not have had two Champion dogs. He also broke Sherry Heinel/Hampton's Little Rascal and Rob Martin's Dunk's Noah Count Jack. He also worked with every dog Herb Rae had and many more that I cannot name.

Please consider these accomplishments and elect Tom Fife to the BFTHOF.

Respectfully,
Cecil Duncan & Larry Hagedorn

[Mary Crawford]

I nominate Tom Fife for induction into the BFTHF.

[Terry Gowin]

I support the nomination of Tom Fife for the BFTHOF.

[Cecil L Duncan]

I noinate Tom Fife for induction into BFTHF.

[Eva Duncan]

I nominate Tom Fife for induction into BFTHF.

[DR Richard Steckley]

I would like to nominate Tom Fife to the Field Trial Hall of Fame. His contribution to our sport spans half a century. It started in 1963 when Ike Pennington named Tom’s Brittany, Bingo winner at a regional trial in Beaumont Kansas. The hook was set. Tom took Bingo to South Dakota and won an all age trial. Tom put championships on Bingo, Fife’s Billy, and Billy’s J.R. Perhaps more importantly he helped others put championships on nearly a dozen of their own dogs. He was instrumental in forming the Southern Kansas Brittany Club and served both as secretary and president. He helped obtain grounds and put on trials mentoring many new members to the sport. He also served on the national committee and judged the National Amateur Championship in 1976 naming Perry’s Rustic Prince National Champion.
Thirty years later he obtained Ninnescah Snowbird in lieu of two hundred dollars that was owed to him. He started competing in AFTCA trials with her. It seemed no trial was decided until Snow had her bid. She won runner-up at the Region Seventeen Championship in October of 1996. Both Tom and Snow have been elected to the Kansas Heritage Hall of Fame. Tom continued to contribute his time and wisdom mentoring those who would avail themselves. He served as president of the Sunflower Championship Association. He also served in the judicial saddle in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Nebraska. He has the reputation for impartially picking the best dog regardless of the politics that sometimes affect others when they serve.
I met Tom in 1993 when he judged an NBHA derby at Douglas Kansas. I had entered an eleven month old pup Jubilee McGoo in my first pointer trial to see what the sport was all about. He named “Mac” winner and afterward advised me to obtain a horse and “let my dog run”. Four months later under Tom’s tutelage, Mac and I won an open horseback shooting dog at Sudan Kansas. Tom asked to breed Snowbird and later her dam Ninnescah Squaw to Mac and those pups served as the foundation for my breeding program. In 1997 Tom took my dog Samuel Snowbird to the prairie near Winfield Kansas to “stretch him out” for three weeks and I subsequently won my first championship at the Jayhawk Open Shooting Dog Championship with a big prairie race and two finds. Sam kept fading out of site to the front like he never had before. I can’t begin to thank Tom enough for the help he has given me. He really put everything into perspective recently when he stated it’s not about winning,” It’s the people you meet that are worth a bundle”. I believe Tom has touched countless lives in the field trial community and call on them to cast their vote for him for the Field Trial hall of Fame.

With respect and much gratitude,
Richard Steckley

[Nellie McGathy]

I support Tom Fife for the BFTHF.

[Tom McGathy]

I support Tom Fife for the BFTHF.

[Leona E Brinkmeyer]

I nominate Tom Fife for induction into the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame.

Tom Fife had been talking to my husband Dean about buying a good dog, a Brittany. When Dean was ready, Tom didn’t have any ready to sell so he bought his first Brittany from a guy who lived just south of Winfield. Tom had Dean keep a quail wing the first fall, let it dry out, then tied a stick to it with a piece of small rope. They put quail scent on the wing, dangled it in from of the 6-8 week old pup to get it used to the smell. Tom lived in Winfield and they would take the pup to his farm, just north of town, and let her run as much as she wanted until she was tired. After the pup rested a bit, they would perk her up using the wing. Dean got good results when they went hunting; he only ran the pup in fun trials but got ribbons and even one trophy. I found one from Green Acres in 1975 and showed 2nd place with Missy.

I remember Tom and Claudia going to Ardmore, OK several years and had good results. When the Nationals were moved to Booneville, AR he said that was too far and quit going.

I remember one field trial in the early 1960's near Beaumont, KS where Tom had Bingo entered in the OAA stake. Bingo went on point at the edge of a deep ravine but no one could see the quail under any scrub or in the grass. Tom got down in the ravine and said the quail was in a hole. Time was called but Tom said he was still going to flush so everyone could see what Bingo would do. He got the bird to fly a few yards across the ravine and Bingo just stood on point until he was called off. He didn’t place of course but everyone in the gallery clapped and yelled.

Tom helped many Brittany owners train their dogs including Cecil Duncan. He never was a professional handler but trained and campaigned his and other people’s dogs and worked tirelessly for the club for too many years to count. He deserves recognition for his contribution.

Leona E. Brinkmeyer
2530 SW Eveningside Dr
Topeka KS 66614

[Mary Crawford]

A petition with 20 nomination signatures has been received by the BFTHF Secretary Mary Crawford in support of Tom Fife.

[Jim Meam Floyd]

We support Tom's nomination for BFTHF.

[Jack Murphy]

I heartly support this effort. I have known Tom the past 24 years, as long as I have been trialing.
he has assisted many folks with their dogs, mine included, breaking, training ect. I have witnessed him training running and judgeing Brittany trials all these years. He has always been a TRUE gentleman and sportsman, and a credit to the sport.

[Ladeena Murphy]

I heartly support this effort.

[Larry Hagedorn]

I have know Tom Fife for over 27 years and strongly support his nomination to the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame.

[Ed Peace]

I support Tom Fife for the BFTHF