During the 1968 OB season, I flew him in every race,
and he never failed me once. He always made me feel good, by having his
number posted on the races sheets. I was quite happy because he had his
share of old timers scratching their heads.
I didn't realize it at the time, I thought these men were impressed by
the fact that at 14 I had my own first official 500 mile day bird, with
only a one or two bird entry every week. And without any relative or
family member who was ever in the sport.
Only many years later, when I told Earl that I was getting back into the
sport, did he share what they had really been puzzled about. You see,
Mister Red was often my only race entry, and he went week after week
after week, through every race station, through numerous 500 mile and
600 mile race stations, and all the 125 to 325 miles races in between,
always in the clock, always in decent times. It was the sum of his
entire effort, not just earning that single diploma !
Mister Red was the sum of my efforts in 3 generations of selective
breeding, and the year was 1968. The following year, Mister Red and
every pigeon in the Smith Family Loft, died in a barn fire, where this
promising family was housed.
The picture shows the loft he fought to fly home to week after week, so
many years ago. That terrible night he was just a few inches to the
left, where he died of smoke inhalation.
Mister Red
AU 67 RRL RCCNot a great photo, but the fact that the slide even survived the four decades of flooded basements, and scorching attics, is a miracle in itself.
"Mister Red" was one of my favorites. He was out of stock that Mr. Ressel would refer to as that "Imported French Stuff."
AN EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY OF PREMIERE RACING PIGEONS