Richard Thomas – One In A Million
Richard Thomas
By Amy Fernandez
On July 27 the dog world lost another irreplaceable individual when retired AKC judge Richard Thomas succumbed to a stroke. He was 87.
He is best remembered for his contributions to Brussels Griffons, Pekingese, and English Toy Spaniels. His breed seminars became classics thanks to his dry wit, candid observations, and effortless stage presence, honed by years as a professional dancer.
Richard was born in 1925 in Paintsville, Kentucky, a tiny town in the Appalachian foothills. In 1920 his father became Paintsville’s first mayor. Like many residents his father was a coal miner, loved hunting, and bred Foxhounds. He inspired Richard’s lifelong admiration for good dogs. Parental influence was less effective when it came to choosing a practical profession. He briefly studied engineering at the University of Kentucky. Then he saw the Ballet Russe perform. It changed his life.
After studying ballet in Los Angeles and New York, he commenced a highly successful career. While touring in the late ‘40s he met a ballerina named Barbara Fallis. They married in 1950 and their son, the noted actor Richard Thomas, was born a year later. Their daughter, Bronwyn, who also became a dancer, was born in 1960.
In 1958 they settled in New York to raised their children and found the New York School of Ballet. It quickly became a mecca for the dance world’s young talent. They also started showing dogs. “Richard and my mother were distant cousins from eastern Kentucky,” recalls past American Brussels Griffon Association President and AKC judge Jeff Bazell. “He was a character. He started in Danes. Then he saw the ETs. He got into Griffs a little later. Iris and her mother had both breeds and they became very close.”
Iris De La Torre Bueno was a second generation Brussels Griffon breeder. Her mother imported their foundation stock from Belgium, registered their All Celia prefix in 1927, and maintained a successful breeding program at their New Rochelle home. Iris grew up in the dog world. At 16 she began her 49 year tenure as the Pekingese Club of America’s secretary/treasurer. She also served as president of the American Brussels Griffon Association from 1954-1989. Inevitably she recruited Richard as a dog club worker. “He served on the standard committee and held several offices in club over the years.” Jeff blithely describes the informality of that era. “For years, Iris had the ABGA meetings at her house. It was really more of a social thing. If you were in the clique you played bridge and got to vote. The others got sent to the kitchen to do the dishes.”
Although Iris started judging in the ‘30s and was approved for all Toy and Non-Sporting breeds, she never learned to drive. She began relying on Richard for transportation to the dog shows. His participation in the dog world intensified after Barbara’s death in 1980. “He missed his wife terribly,” says Jeff. “Iris got him into judging.”
“I was in awe of his knowledge,” says Brussels Griffon breeder Donna Vartanian. Describing him as witty and gracious, she admits that he was sometimes perceived as stern and aloof. “He really took command of the ring. I always admired his wonderful posture. Later I realized what he had done for a living. He was so modest and rarely talked about his life. The first time I went to Progressive he walked in with his son and everyone recognized him as John Boy from The Waltons. He had such an interesting life.”
It became more interesting after Iris died in 1989. Then president of the Pekingese Club of America, Richard was conducting a meeting that day. Iris skipped it to attend a matinee performance of his son’s Broadway show. She suffered a massive heart attack walking to the New Rochelle train station. During the PCA meeting, his son relayed the news that Iris was dead, he had inherited her house, and must call her lawyer immediately.
Iris left him her Victorian mansion overlooking Long Island Sound, but stipulated that he must take possession immediately. Obviously, that clause was intended to ensure the well-being of her dogs. Richard relocated to her ancient 16 room house, cared for her geriatric Pekes, Griffs, and ETs, and dedicated the next decade to judging.
“He was more than a breeder/judge,” says Donna. “He really loved Griffs and truly understood them. He always gave the dogs a very detailed look and his memory was amazing. He was staunch in his beliefs and really hated the politics. When he stopped judging, he said he could not stand what it had become.” Richard’s retirement from dogs was sudden and final. He sold his house, donated a treasure trove of art and dog memorabilia to American Brussels Griffon Association, and returned to his family’s farm in Kentucky. He spent his final years enjoying his menagerie of horses, dogs, llamas, camels, and one Brahma bull. He will be missed by the sport forever.
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