While researching my Williams family genealogy, I ran across a portion of an article in American Field magazine about Dempsey Williams. He was one of the half-brothers of my paternal grandfather, Bo Williams. One of the associates at the magazine was kind enough to send me the entire article so I’m archiving it here.
Tennessee Sportsman Dempsey Williams Has Died
By Blake Kukar | Sep 25, 2014
SOMERVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee field trial community has lost a longtime stalwart, Dempsey Williams of Toone, Tenn. Dempsey celebrated his 85th birthday September 15. He died three days later, on September 18. He had just moved into a new home he’d built in Toone, north of Bolivar.
I went to Dempsey’s place about a month ago. He called and asked if I’d pick up some dogs. Said it was a bit much taking care of them. When I saw Dempsey, he did not look well and I suggested he go to the doctor. He was hospitalized for three days. The diagnosis was cancer. He was able to return home and he died there.
Dempsey had a long and colorful tenure on the bird dog scene, starting back in the late 1960s and early ’70s. His big winner and producer was Admiral Rex (Ormond Smart Alec-Knight’s Gypsy). Rex was a 21-time winner for the Tennessee votary, and the sire of some 25 winners, among them Rex’s Dandy and High Fidelity, both 19-time winners; Giveaway Penny, which has the singular distinction of winning both the American Field Pheasant and Quail Futurities in 1978; and Bluff City Mike, winner of the 1986 National Championship.
Some of the “oldtimers” here (Bill Hunt, Steve Butler, Joe Walker) said that Dempsey’s Admiral Smartie Gal was better than Rex. She also was sired by Ormond Smart Alec, but out of Knight’s Cindy. Smartie Gal had 23 wins, among them runner-up in the All-America Quail (1976) and Southwestern Championships (1977). Rex sired winners, but Smartie Gal had none, so Rex likely got the “ink.”
Dempsey used the “Admiral” prefix on virtually all of the dogs he owned and registered with the Field Dog Stud Book over a period of 40 years.
Dempsey judged a number of important stakes, among them the American Field Quail and Pheasant Futurities. Interestingly, the Quail Futurity was held on the West Tennessee grounds from 1939 through 1941. Dempsey was literally raised with bird dogs and field trials.
Back in the 1990s, Dempsey served a term or two as president of the National Bird Hunters Association and provided a venue near Brownsville, Tenn., for some of the leading NBHA trials.
He was a frequent competitor at the West Tennessee trials — open and amateur — at Dancyville. At the time he lived in Brownsville, a 20-minute drive to the Dancyville grounds. He was accompanied by his grandson Will Moss on occasion.
Dempsey is survived by his daughter Rosemary Moss (Skip), grandson Will Moss, and a great grandchild Makya Moss; two brothers and a sister.
Field trial friends Weldon Bennett and the writer served as pallbearers. Graveside services were held Saturday, September 20, in Dancyville.
Memorials in Dempsey Williams’ honor may be sent to the Bird Dog Foundation, Grand Junction, Tenn.
From their website: The American Field has followed the field trial sport in America since 1874. The bird dog field trial pastime encompasses several facets of the game, from horseback stakes to walking events, on every upland gamebird— quail, pheasant, prairie chicken, grouse, woodcock, chukar and Hungarian partridge.
Each week The American Field provides its readers with the very latest news on purebred sporting dogs and field trial competition results. Every issue carries photos of winners, stories of owners and handlers, detailed event descriptions, and an advertising section for the sale of goods, services and announcements of upcoming trials.
The Field Dog Stud Book is the oldest purebred dog registry in the United States helping dog owners with authentic documentation, registration, certified pedigrees and DNA services.
You can find more about the Williams family here, my other family lines at HaywoodCountyLine.com or read more blog posts about the history of West Tennessee on my blog page.