Gene Allhands-A Man of Many Hats
Redbone Special Section COONHOUND BLOODLINES JUNE 2001
By Jean Ramm
'PR' Lost Timber Red Queen (left) and 'PR' Lost Timber Red Hawk (right). Gene
got Queen from D.J. Tucker, for whom he had a great deal of respect.
If you open up your American Redbone Coonhound Association
Redbook and take a look at past officers and directors, it is obvious that Gene
Allhands has donated many hours of hard work to this organization. Basically, he
has been with the organization since it was a pup. From 1972 to 1992, Gene wore
several different hats. Over this span of time, he served as director, trustee
and president. Presently, he is an Honorary Director. According to his wife
Linda, going to American Redbone Days is like going to a family reunion. Both of
them are eager to get there and visit with all the friends that they have made
over the years. I know this is a mutual admiration society, because in 1986 Gene
was named Redbone Person of the Year.
When I spoke to Gene, I asked where it all began. He told me he started hunting
with his dad, uncles and brothers when he was ten. His father hunted red dogs,
but they weren't really Redbones. As time went on, Gene hunted every color of
coonhound, but in 1966 this parade of colors ended.
This abrupt and complete change to Redbones was caused by D.J. Tucker, who was
an Ag teacher at the local school. Although Mr. Tucker was about 20 years older
that Gene, they became close friends and often hunted together. Gene had a great
deal of respect for the man and his dogs. Over the years, Gene got five dogs
from Mr. Tucker, and every one of those dogs became a Bench Show Champion. Four
of those dogs were Lost Timber Red Queen, Lost Timber Ginger, Lost Timber Flame
and Lost Timber Susie. Gene bragged on Susie a little longer than the rest.
Basically, he feels as if he didn't have to do anything with Susie but bring her
to the show, and she did the rest. One of her wins was Champion Female at U.S.
Redbone Days.
Another of Gene's dogs was Lost Timber Red Hickory, who was the sire of GR NITE
CH CH Country Music Ringo. Gene sold Ringo as a pup, and eventually James Dorman
became his owner. Gene stated that James did great things with this dog. In
1984, with Ringo as a partner, Mr. Dorman was named Redbone Hunter of the Year.
According to Dan Knight, Gene's all-time favorite dog was Lost Timber Cracker
Jack, whom he originally owned with Earl Turpin. He eventually traded Earl for
his half of the dog. Dan Knight claims that Cracker Jack had an exceptionally
good mouth and was a good tree dog. At one time Cracker Jack was lost for 14
days. About the time Gene had given up any hope of finding his dog, someone
spotted him standing in the middle of the road and called Gene. Eventually, Gene
gave the dog to Homer Miller, who kept Cracker Jack until he died.
While talking to Gene, it became real obvious that he loves
 1999
UKC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS • MT, GILEAD, OHIO
Gene Allhands (left) and John Allen with GR CH 'PR' Lost Timber Buzz. Gene says
that he is more proud of Buzz than any dog he has ever owned. More than that,
Buzz is his buddy, and they have put on lots of miles together. Following are
some of their wins: Best Male of Breed at the 1999 UKC. World Championship; Best
Overall Redbone at the Redbone Sectional in Paola, Kansas, in both 1998 and
1999; Best Male of Show both nights at the 1999 Brook McGill Hunt; Grand
Champion Redbone Male at the 2000 National Redbone Days; Grand Champion Redbone
Male at the 2000 American Heritage; Best Overall Pairs, along with GR CH 'PR'
Hoosier Holiday Gamble, at the 2000 Autumn Oaks; and the Grand Champion winner
at the 2001 Kansas State Hunt. Buzz was sired by 'PR' Hank's Red Buck and is out
of 'PR' Molloy's Tree Barkin Little Ann.
to put a good-looking dog on the bench. In addition to
showing his dogs, he was also a Bench Show Judge. He is currently showing GR CH
Lost Timber Red Buzz.
Needless to say, Gene hunts his show dogs. His wife Linda believes that Buzz and
Gene are on the same wave length and that they actually carry on conversations
with each other. Linda always knows when Gene is going hunting because when she
comes home, Buzz is not in his doghouse. She and Gene both told me that if Gene
tells Buzz that they are going hunting, Buzz will not go back into his doghouse.
He simply waits patiently until Gene arrives.
Gene says that he is more proud of Buzz than any dog he has ever owned. More
than that, Buzz is his buddy, and they have put on lots of miles together. I
asked Gene if Buzz was one of his pups. He said no and told me how lucky he was
to acquire this dog. Gene was in Oklahoma on a job. He asked the man that he was
working with if he had any Redbones for sale. The man said no, but he had just
traded one to a mechanic for some work, but didn't think that the mechanic
really wanted to own the dog. Well, of course, Gene went to look at the dog,
went home and talked it over with Linda, and then went back and purchased the
dog "at puppy price." A few days later, he and Dan took Buzz to the woods. Gene
said Dan offered to buy the dog from him at least three times before they got
home that night. We all know his decision on that offer.
In addition to his hunting ability, Gene stated that Buzz is his buddy who has
put on lots of miles traveling to shows with him. While traveling with Gene,
Buzz has had some impressive wins.
I asked Gene if his dogs were also Nite Champions. He told me he seldom competed
in Nite Hunt competition. He said it was simply something he never really got
into. As I spoke to his wife, this all made sense. She said that her husband
really hunts because of the fellowship. He has been hunting at least once a week
with his best friend Dan Knight for 37 years. As a matter of fact, in the
beginning, she often went out with him, but then the children started to arrive.
Gene is the proud father of two daughters and a son, and now he and Dan hunt
with two of Gene's grandsons, Lorin Nystrom and D.J. Miller. Dan finished by
saying that he has now hunted with four generations of Gene's family.
As I talked to several people about Mr. Allhands, I heard all these statements
again and again - "Honest as the day is long;" "Christian man;" "hard worker;"
"early to bed, early to rise;" "family man;" "good husband;" "loyal friend;"
"warm personality;" "plain old country boy;" "never in a hurry;" "easy going;"
"never heard him say a bad word about anyone;" "promoter of Redbones;" "his Lost
Timber dogs;" and "great sense of humor."
As I continued to collect information for this article, it became obvious that
Gene Allhands is a very special person, and I'd like to share some of the
stories that 1 heard about him. Let's start with loyal friend Dan Knight, who
had back surgery over a year ago and cannot lift. To this day, Gene shows up
once a week with his dog food and empties it into barrels for him. Alton Key
said that when things aren't going just right, Gene has a way of perking up your
spirits. He also said you can't talk about Gene with out talking about his wife,
Linda. They come as a team.
One of Gene's projects is the article he writes for Cooner,
 CH
'PR' Lost Timber Red Ginger (below) at a UKC. Coon Hunt and Bench Show in
Willard, Missouri, in August of 1966.
"Let's Go Redbones." In the article, he picks someone who
has been working with Redbones for years and features them. By writing, he
promotes the breed and also gives credit to those who have worked so hard to
improve these wonderful dogs.
According to his wife Linda, Gene's great sense of humor and easy going
personality make him an easy target for pranks. As I spoke to her, it became
obvious that she, too, had a great sense of humor. I asked if she would tell me
one of the pranks that they played on her husband. You could hear the lilt in
her voice as she said, "I have a good one, but I'm going to walk to the other
room and close the door so Gene can't hear me."
To set up the story, she explained that they were raised in a very strict and
conventional family and, in general, still are. Several years ago, a group told
Gene that they needed to have a meeting and they were going to have it in a
restaurant. Well, the restaurant turned out to be a strip bar. Although Gene was
already speechless, one or more of the other men paid one of the strippers to do
a lap dance on Gene's lap. When he got home, he told his wife about the
"restaurant." As usual, he could see the humor in it all, but was still somewhat
in the stages of cultural shock. Linda admitted that she wished she could have
been there to see that one.
Dan Knight told me a prank that he played on Gene. One night they had been out
hunting and Dan wanted to drop the tailgate one more time, but as usual Gene
wanted to get home early. Anyway Gene fell asleep, and Dan turned down another
road to hunt. When the car stopped, Gene awoke and asked Dan why he had stopped
the car. Dan told Gene that he had to make a call of nature stop and hopped out
of the car. He stood out there for a minute and watched Gene fall back to sleep,
and then quietly lowered the tailgate. Unfortunately the dogs took off in two
different directions so Dan had to wake Gene up.
CH 'PR' Lost Timber Red Hickory at ('PR' Lost Timber MO.
Ruff x 'PR' Ridges Red Tammy), at Willard, Missouri, in 1973. He was the sire of
GR NITE CH CH Country Music Ringo. Gene sold Ringo as a pup, and eventually
James Dorman became his owner. In 1984, with Ringo as a partner, Mr. Dorman was
named Redbone Hunter of the Year.
Shortly after that it started to pour. When they finally
found the last of the dogs, it was pouring so hard that you couldn't see the top
of the tree, let alone if there was a coon in it. These two very wet men arrived
home around 4 a.m. According to Dan, it did not make any difference what time
Gene went to bed he was always up at 5 a.m., so he doubted if he got any sleep
that night. Dan told me that he has told Gene many times that he hated to go to
events with him and share a room because no matter how late they got in or how
exhausted they were, Gene would be up at 5 a.m. fiddling around and making noise
so Dan couldn't sleep. I guess this particular prank just helped even up the
score.
Everyone I talked to said that Gene is never in a hurry, but Dan told me he has
seen Gene move out in high gear a few times. Once Gene came across a bear in the
Missouri woods (not a common sight). Dan said he sure wasn't moving slow that
night!
As I finished up my interview with Gene, he shared with me how lucky he was to
have a job promoting a good product, Black Gold Dog Food that also allowed him
to show his dogs. While he shows his dogs, Linda watches the booth. Then he
comes back to the booth to pack. He claims that's why there is seldom a picture
of him when he wins.
Personally, I believe this is one more example that shows he is hard working,
honest, and a good husband. His moment in the sun just isn't as important as all
those other pieces of the puzzle that make Gene Allhands such a special person.
GR CH 'PR Lost Timber Red Susie, one of five Redbones that Gene Allhands got
from D.J. Tucker. Gene bragged on Susie a little longer than the rest.
Basically, he feels as if he didn't have to do anything with Susie but bring her
to the show, and she did the rest. One of her wins was Champion Female at U.S.
Redbone Days. Susie was sired by 'PR' Tuckers Red Bugler and was out of 'PR'
Lewis Red Beauty.
| |
|
