American Chesapeake Club

As you know, Marston has been in Chesapeakes for decades. He has served as president of the ACC and on many a committee, including doing yeoman service as chair of the field trial committee. He has organized and hosted field trials (the specialty in Ocean City, Maryland, in the late eighties was the finest I’ve ever been to). He has been a consistent participant in Chesapeake events and all-breed field trials, attending the latter in all parts of the country, putting field titles on more than one dog (a rare occurrence in the breed), and judging many a trial (the Open he judged with Hans Kuck at the Chesapeake all-breed trial in California around 1990 had some of the most creative, original tests I have seen in all my years of trialing). Throughout Marston’s time in the breed, which goes back well before I became associated with the ACC in the mid-80s, he has been a careful breeder whose contributions to the gene pool continue with us still; his knowledge of breed genetics and concern with health issues antedating the current emphasis on these things by many years. In addition, Marston has been a friend and mentor to many a newcomer to the breed, myself included. On the lighter side, Marston’s role as auctioneer for the Calcutta has been a highlight of many field trial specialties and has netted the club a lot of money that might have otherwise stayed in the pockets of those in attendance. Finally, Marston is a gentleman – always.

-Tom Cox