Tom Bradley – The Definitive Dog Man
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By Amy Fernandez
Mentoring has been the soup de jour of this game for quite a while now. It’s touted as the all-purpose magic wand to impart knowledge at every level of the sport. Likewise, there’s no shortage of horror stories revealing its pitfalls on both sides of the deal. Since I’ve been on both sides, I think I can say that some of the AKC-sanctioned results have led to a degree of justified skepticism among the ranks. That said, perhaps it would be useful to explore a case of mentoring that succeeded beyond all expectations.
Tom Bradley is one of those ubiquitous individuals who seem to have always been an acknowledged expert. His work as Westminster’s Communications Director and Show Chairman placed him front and center of that role, as did his formative position in Take the Lead. Yes, he’s been in the game for a while, but that doesn’t completely explain his leadership skills, expertise, and basically his overall credibility. Everybody starts somewhere, and whether or not we like to own that history, we have all bumbled around learning plenty of this the hard way. But enough of that. Let me introduce Tom.
Most of the dog world knows him through his role at Westminster, where he spent 15 years managing the show. Needless to say, no stretch of the imagination can portray show chairman as a fun job, and that’s particularly true in this case. Westminster is not only famed for its maniacal focus on perfection but also its notorious dedication to tradition. But you might say that Tom had an advantage in that respect. He is actually Tom Bradley III. The family business, Thomas H. Bradley, Inc., a wholesale hardware company in Watertown, was established in 1897 by his grandfather.
Okay, let’s fast-forward to the how, where, and when. From a canine perspective, Tom’s long and illustrious connection to Sporting breeds has centered on his Luftnase breeding program that has produced quite a few really nice Labs, German Shorthairs and, of course, Pointers. Most notable among them is Luftnase Albelarm Bees Knees, winner of 50 Best In Shows, three National Specialty wins, top dog of 1989, along with the Westminster Sporting Group that year. Bee’s dam, Opal, handled by Michael Zollo, also did some impressive winning. Anyway, Tom’s solid track record in Pointers shouldn’t overshadow his accomplishments in English Cockers, Whippets and Border Terriers.
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Posted by AnthonyA
on Jul 12 2021. Filed under Current Articles, Featured.
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