9
February 1986
Dear
Mr Plant,
I
regret that I must write this letter. The letter carries to you a notice that
Frank L. Gary, Jr., Crosswicks, NJ, passed into eternal life on December 31,
1985, He was laid to rest in the North Crosswicks Cemetery beside his wife,
Ruth, and eldest son Frank III, on January 4, 1986.
The
7th Edition of Bantam
Standard was off the press and sent to him on December 10, 1985, by Mr
Fred Jeffrey who has retired as Secretary/Treasurer of the American Bantam
Association. So, this is the last edition which will be done under Frank Gary’s
editorship and with Fred Jeffrey making all arrangements for publication.
There has been a changing of the guard.
The
new Chairman of the Standard Committee, appointed by President Johnny Batson,
is Mr. Clell Agler, 3407 Bean-Oller Road, Delaware, Ohio, 43015. Any matters
that concern standards should be forwarded to Mr Agler. Another member of the
Standard Committee appointed by Johnny Batson is Ralph J.Sheriff, Jr., Rt #3,
Box 392, Piedmont, SC, 29673. A new Bantam breed, the Vorwerk Bantam, has just
been admitted to Bantam Standard.
During review of the description, Mr Sheriff made comments that demonstrated
he is a careful thinker and excellent judge of bantams. Frank Gary was
impressed with his work. The new ABA Secretary/Treasurer is Mrs Eleanor
Vinhage, PO Box 127, Augusta, NJ 07822, USA.
I
guess you are aware that I, Frank Gary’s son-in-law, have been typing his
letters for the past six or seven years; there was his letter to you on
January 9, 1984 which conveyed that information. Along with Frank’s son,
ALAN, we have been sorting books and correspondence and all sorts of data
Frank accumulated. All your correspondence and his replies were kept in a
special folder. I take the liberty of returning it to you under separate
cover. None of the family has an interest in chickens; should there be papers
you do not care to keep, please destroy them.
By
associating with Mr Gary over these years, I couldn’t help but developed
some interest in his work of writing descriptions. I suspect that is over. I
intend to continue a series that he started on the History and Development of
the American Bantam Association that Bob De Lancey, Poultry Press had started
to publish.
I
hope that by this time you have had whatever operation was necessary to help
your vision, I also hope that your son will someday take up your interest in
the chicken and further your work. In the event that you have any question
with which I can assist don’t hesitate to write.
Sincerely,