Truman Frank COWLES
Obituary

Hartford Courant, The (CT) - June 22, 2001

Deceased Name: COWLES, TRUMAN F.

COWLES, Truman F.
Truman F. Cowles, 86, of Manchester, died Wednesday, (June 20, 2001) at a local convalescent home. Retired, a long leading figure in all phases of competitive bird dog trials. A writer, nationally known judge, competitor with his own dogs and a leading organizer and trial official, he was a member of numerous clubs and prominently identified with the affairs of the Association of New England Field Trial Clubs and president since 1948 of the Barbar Hill Field Trial Club. Born in Hartford, moved with his parents, William H. and Ethel (Stimpson) Cowles to Manchester as an infant and was raised on a farm on Woodbridge Street. He attended Manchester schools, graduating from Manchester High School in 1933. He later studied Accounting at Bay Path in Springfield, MA, and LaSalle University in Chicago, IL. His wife of 56 years, Mildred A. (Beebe) Cowles predeceased him in 1993. Surviving is a daughter, Gail F. LaCoss and her husband Kenneth of Paulden, AZ; and a son, Barry W. Cowles and his wife Francine of Hebron; a brother, W. Donald Cowles of Bolton; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his younger brother, Alton in 1986. Raised on a farm, he always had an affinity for the outdoors and sports. He played baseball in the local twilight league with the Depot Square Garage Team and softball with the Second Congregational Church Nine. He was a member of Hose Company #2 of the North Manchester Fire Department, retired to honorary status. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was active in the Manchester Sportsman Association, serving two terms as secretary and delegate to the Hartford County League of Sportsmen's Clubs, where he also served as secretary and president. Also delegate to the State League of Sportsmen's Clubs, and its secretary for two years. After World War II, where he served two years with the 27th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theatre, ending up on Okinawa and going from there to Japan with the Occupational Forces, being discharged in 1946. Back in civilian life, he served six years as a director of the Y.M.C.A., when Dr. Eugene Davis was president. Renewing his passion for the outdoors, he joined the Barbar Hill Club in South Windsor and soon became secretary. In 1949, the club's faction who followed Bird Dogs and competitions split and he became president of its Field Trial Group, continuing as their leader until 1986 when they ceased operations. At this juncture, Bird Dogs and field trial became his main interest and would remain so the rest of his days. This new club joined the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America, Inc., and the Association of New England Field Trial Clubs. Soon, in addition to competing with dogs he raised and trained himself, he began reporting sectional trials for The American Field, a weekly publication in Chicago, IL, devoted entirely to field trials and bird dogs. From this, it was but a small step to advance to judging these competitions. Between these two pursuits, demands soon widened to sectional and national assignments and between them he was soon participating in 40 or more trials a year and traveling widely. These took him to the Deep South and to the Canadian Prairies and westward to California and eventually Mexico, Hawaii and Japan. As a competitor, he owned and competed with more than 20 pointers and a couple of setters, all with varied winning records. His lone champion was a pointer dog called Dynastic, who won his title in the Spring of 1981 on the Assunpinck Grounds in New Jersey-the Region #2 Amateur Championship in a field of 42 two starters. In 1964, after judging the winter trials in Hawaii, he was invited to Japan and spent ten days, circulating among the hunters and sportsmen there, introducing them to field trials and Bird Dog competitions. He would return there four times to report and judge as time passed. On his last visit in 1991, he was made an honorary lifetime member of the All Japan Field Trial Club. He had left the Postal Service in 1950 and launched into a sales career in Pet Food Sales. The remaining years were spent in the pursuit, with positions in Regional and National Sales with two manufactures and two regional distributors, traveling regionally and nationally until retirement in 1980. His interests and involvement with bird dogs and field trials continued as he spent each winter in the South, first in Hernando, FL, and in later years, with headquarters in Blakely, GA. He became affiliated with a new club starting in the Albany, GA area. This new organization conducts two championships of national ranking each March, the Southeastern Open All Ages Championship and the Southeastern Open Shooting Dog Championship over two plantations, Chickasaw and Abigail, formerly Tallassee. Together they totaled more than 12,000 acres and competitions take two weeks and offer more than ten thousand dollars in purses. In the early 60's, he became associated with the Indiantown Gap Pointer and Setter Club, whose annual Spring trials on the Military Reservation, East of Harrisburg, PA were a major stopping point of the spring Gold Coast Circuit. He was secretary for six years. In the late 60's, he joined forces with the Orange County Club whose operations were at Baldwinsville, NY, becoming a director and vice president in 1994. Additionally he was chairman of the New England Futurity, an annual competition for breeders under the auspices of the Association of New England Field Trail Clubs for breeders from 1975 to 1996. When the Manchester Land Conservation Trust was formed in 1962 he became a charter member and has been active since then in supporting roles, particularly in the Risley Reservoir and Salter's Pond Reclamation Projects. His health had always been fine but problems, first with sight, as he lost the vision of one eye in 1986, but he continued with his dogs and horses until problems reared and threatened this activity. In 1995, this was further threatened and he disposed of his horses and eventually his last dog in 1998. He continued to go South with a more limited itinerary. Recently, complications with respiratory problems, led to closer confinement, have now brought an end to a very active and productive life. A Memorial Service will be celebrated Saturday, June 23, 5:30 p.m. at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester. Family and friends may call 4 p.m. until time of the service, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bird Dog Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 774, Grand Junction, TN 38039.



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