Result: A Sad July

Post Date: Aug 6, 2026

Submitted By: David A. Fletcher

With the death of two great people, very dear friends, July became a sad time for this scribe. Betty Eaton, wife of Hall of Fame professional Hoyle Eaton, died July 5, and Buddy Smith passed a few weeks later, and I had to face the loss of two of the finest people I have ever had years of association with. I met Hoyle Eaton on the prairies of Canada in 1964, and my career as an American Field trial reporter brought me in contact with him often on the circuit of major trials. I met Betty after the Southwestern Championship, then in Booneville, Arkansas. Hoyle and Tommy Olive invited me to ride with them from Booneville, Arkansas, to Booneville, Mississippi, in the big red dog truck, along with the horses and Hoyle's string of bird dogs, including Riggins White Knight and Red Water Rex. In a crowded truck cab, I was responsible for changing gears. I stayed with Hoyle and Betty for nearly a week, and besides cooking great meals, Betty would ask me whether I needed any clothes washed or repaired, or whether she could shop in town for anything I needed. Betty worked in Booneville, and this reporter had no vehicle. A fine lady looking after me. I was there a week, then we departed for the Quail Championship Invitational at Paducah, Kentucky. It was a time when Betty and Hoyle's sons Joe and Paul were youngsters.

A few years later, I was nominated and elected to the Board of Directors of the Bird Dog Foundation. I conversed with Hoyle and Betty, who attended the Grand Junction Hall of Fame presentations and the accompanying banquet and party. They invited me to stay with them during my Bird Dog Foundation attendance, and for 20 years each February, I got to know Hoyle and Betty in depth. Many times, while driving to their home on Friday, I would call and ask what we were doing for dinner that evening. Would fish be suitable? The best takeout fish-and-chips dinner I have ever found was available right on my way to the Eaton home in Jumpertown, and I brought the outstanding feast to the evening dinner table.

Betty was very active in her church, mostly on the musical side of things, mainly the choir, which she managed. Hoyle read the bible every night before retiring. Betty would be the first to go to bed, then I would make my move, and I never left for my bedroom without noticing Hoyle was still reading his bible.

A phone call from Clarice, Buddy Smith's wonderful wife, apprised me of Buddy's passing, only an hour or two after it happened. Although Buddy and I were both 91, I wanted the two of us to go on with dogs and field trials and be great friends, doing things together for a few more years. It was not to be, but we did have our February visitations. With the death of Hoyle Eaton, I was invited to stay at the Smith residence in Collierville during my stay at the Bird Dog Foundation events, the Hall of Fame inductions, and the Board Meeting. We always visited the Brittany group on Friday evening to attend their get-together party at their Collierville motel, only a few blocks from Buddy's home.

I met Buddy Smith at a field trial. I think it was an NBHA event, but the stakes were of the walking handler variety. He also ran dogs in Horseback Shooting Dog stakes. Buddy's influence on the pointing dog world was far greater than his accolades as a dog trainer and field trial handler. He was extremely successful as a breeder, trainer, and developer of nationally known bird dogs.

Very notable were Buddy's skills in breeding, selection of bloodlines, and recognizing the talents of dogs for use in breeding programs. He bred and trained Shadow Oak Bo up to his Derby year, and Bo was broke to perfection and ready for an owner. Butch Houston, Dr. John Dorminy, and Robin Gates took Bo forward. Bo won the National Championship two successive years, 2013 and 2014.
Buddy was also involved in the breeding and early training of dogs such as Lehar's Main Tech, winner of eight championships including the three-hour Free-For-All, plus the same story on House's Rain Cloud who won five Open championships and six runner-up titles, the Quail Championship Invitational three times and had a total of 37 field trial wins. Cedaroak Kate, who won the National Championship handled by owner Tommy Honecker, was bred and trained by Buddy. More champions include dogs such as Warhoot Rogue and Admiral War Bond. The above are horseback dogs, but to show his versatility, in 1987 Buddy's dogs won 80 placements in horseback and walking trials, and 70 the following year, setting a record.
One facet of Buddy's training was his brainstorm in creating the "Buddy Stick." It is a 10-foot section of a 1-inch-diameter wooden stake with a snap on the end. I found it invaluable for a lone amateur dog breaker with a dog on point on a planted bird, using only a check cord, trying to get in front of that pointing dog to flush the bird. With the Buddy Stick gentle prods and a few "whoas," one could get totally in front and keep that dog in place, flush the bird, and keep the dog steady to wing. What a help this was to this scribe.

Buddy's talents and accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by the field trial world. He has been inducted into three Halls of Fame, has conducted many dog training and handling seminars, and has judged a host of field trials. He won the first NBHA Futurity in 1986, and also the American Field Quail and Pheasant Futurities. He has won NBHA Handler of the Year awards.

I sincerely miss my time with Buddy Smith, but my mind harks back to all he has contributed to the bird dog sport. His was certainly an outstanding career with bird dogs.