About W. Clayton Crawford
W. Clayton Crawford was a professional dog trainer who lived in Smyrna Delaware with his wife Susan and their two sons Scott and Chad. Clayton was a dedicated trainer, handler, and a treasured friend to all who knew him.
He had an infectious smile and touched the lives of many people, always willing and able to give of his time and talent to help them improve as a handler or as a person.
When the Master National was but an idea, Clayton embraced it. He envisioned it as a terrific complement to the AKC Hunt Test Program giving people something more to strive for, that being the ability to showcase their dogs in front of the rest of the country.
Clayton did everything he possibly could to get it off the ground and make it a success. He loved the Master National.
Clayton died suddenly doing what he loved, being on line handling a dog at Swamp Dog Club’s hunt test at the “Brickyard” in Quakertown, Penn. on Sunday, Nov.12, 1995.
At each year’s event the Master National Retriever Club Board of Directors votes as to the recipient of the Clayton Crawford Memorial Award. This award is given to honor and recognize the person or persons whose unconditional help and hard work made the current year’s event a success.
This award perpetuates the name of W. Clayton Crawford. An engraved plaque is presented to the recipient(s) at the Master National Closing Ceremony at the conclusion of the event.
Written by Frank Prendergast
- Frank and Terri Durham are presented with the 2011 Award
Clayton Crawford Award Winners
2011 Frank and Terri Durham
2010 Jay and Raelene Phelps
2006 The Meade Ranch Staff, Morgan Hills California
2002 Michael Allen O’Hearn
2000 Frank Prendergast and Russ Reavis and Theresa Kucan
1999 Sidney Sidwell
RECEIVING THIS AWARD WAS A COMPLETE SUPRISE AND A GREAT HONOR. THE WORK WE PERFORMED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WAS A LABOR OF LOVE. WORKING WITH RHC AND CCSC MADE OUR TASKS SIMPLE BEYOND IMAGAINATION. HAVING A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OUR NEEDS MADE LIFE REALLY EASY. BRAD HENMAN AND KATI GRISSOM TOOK REALLY GREAT CARE OF RAELENE AND ME. (NOTE THE SPELLING ON MY WIFE’S NAME, RAELENE AND NOT RAYLENE.)
JAY PHELPS, CHAIRMAN MASTER NATIOANL HUNT TEST
Thank you for the correction Jay and I do apologize, and have fixed the spelling on the site. Mia Di
Benedetto
The Clayton Crawford Award givn this year could not hve been given to more deserving people. The Phelps hve been working on the 10-10-10 event for over two years and the result was one of the best events ever . Thank you for your dedication.
I have had the honor of knowing Jay for over 51 years as a shipmate and as a friend. I wish he and Raylene all the best!