We’ll Never Forget The Colonel – Jerry Weiss
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By Amy Fernandez
Some judges are notorious for their prickly ring demeanor. Yes, judging is a demanding task, but it also requires a modicum of empathy for the exhibitors paying for that expert opinion. Unfortunately, more than a few novice exhibitors leave the ring, the sport, and the entire world of purebred dogs thanks to one mortifying experience in that realm. That brings me to Jerry Weiss. A casual glance at Col. Jerry H. Weiss, U.S.M.C. presiding over his ring would instantly brace anyone for the worst. He ran his ring with military precision, which was true to character. But that’s where any semblance of intimidating formality ended. Jerry greeted every exhibitor like a friend and every dog received his patient attention. Win or lose, showing to Jerry was a positive experience.
That rare trait pretty much defined his life. Long before he commenced judging dogs, his daughter Lisa became his partner in their celebrated Lobuff Labrador breeding program. “I’m biased, but he was the best dad in the whole world. I have four sisters and he was so supportive of anything we wanted to do or be. And he was a feminist, which sounds strange. Because he was a Colonel, people assumed he was really strict with us and, yeah, we had to behave and toe the line somewhat, but as far as choosing vocations and careers, he was always 100 percent supportive and helpful. I don’t know if this is PC, but the other misconception about him is that he was very straight and conservative. He was a liberal democrat and he had friends from all walks of life–every race, creed, and color. He never met a person he didn’t like. You really had to make an effort for him to not like you.”
Brooklyn born and raised, Jerry grew up in those defining decades of the ‘40s and ‘50s. At age 17, he enlisted in the Navy, learned to fly, and from there it was off to Marine boot camp. After his discharge, he just about had time to play some football and earn a degree from Duke University before the Korean War sent him back to military life. True to form, he was discharged in 1953 with two Purple Hearts.
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Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=218136
Posted by AnthonyA
on Jan 9 2022. Filed under Current Articles, Featured.
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