Several of my pages make references to a man named Kenneth Hemphill and a dog named Mo. When I say "man" and "dog" I mean once in a life-time, high character, best you will ever see or know! Mo was the definition of coondog. He had it all and then some. You didn't have to say a word about Mo, just cut him lose and by the end of the hunt you knew all you needed to know. This dog didn't miss! An absolute legend, and you couldn't find one more accurate or fun to listen to on track, locate, or tree. Now if he caught one on the ground... different story. He was a bone crusher! What kind of man gets to own a dog like that?
If you run hounds your whole life and have one like Mo you are lucky, if you go your whole life and have a friend like Mr. Hemphill, you are blessed! Kenneth has been running hounds since before the Walkers were registered, and he has had some dandies! More importantly, he has shared his love of the hunt with many young hunters and has passed on his passion for tree dogs to hunters that can only hope to be half the man and have half the dog he had. Let's all keep that tradition strong with the next generation of hunters and pay tribute to men like Mr Hemphill. It's a tall order to fill, but as houndsmen we owe it to the legacy these men have left us. They live the example and give us so much enjoyment, better than the best hounds we will ever have.
