Short History of FWCMSC

By Lori Bush

 The Florida West Coast Miniature Schnauzer Club was founded in May, 1964 by a group of people in the St Petersburg - Tampa, FL area. Primary in getting the group together were Ginnie Phipps (Tampa) and Fred and Helen Keller (St Pete).  Ginnie had been a long time member of the Mt Vernon MSC in MD. Other  Charter members of FWCMSC who continued to work for years and help achieve approval for AKC licensed Specialties included Lori Bush (Shorlaine), Connie Mercer (Tigerlane), Ruth Miller (Rujax), Kay Braukman (Braukman's), Helen Lambert (Car-Lyn), Mildred Marvin (Marley's), and Ray and Faye Wine (Winemaker's).  Honorary and life members were Anne Eskrigge and John Knight.  Over the years many additional successful breeders joined and contributed, among them Duard and Mary Gilbert (Flintrock), Woody and Betty Woodard (Datura), Joy Hathaway (Falling Timbers), Ginnie Rice (Liebestraum), Sue Hersee (Blackheath), Pam Tanner (Mai Tai), Kristy Lockard (Krystal's), Jackie Newman (Mummenschanz),  and Geri Kelly (Kelly's) as did several in obedience and so many with loving companions.

A highlight each Spring was the Fun and Puppy Match with a picnic at one of the area Parks.  Grooming and training classes were held periodically.  The first AKC licensed Specialty was held in conjunction with the Tampa Bay KC in Jan, 1970.  The Judge was noted breeder-Judge Jean Fancy of Fancway M.S.  Among her winners was CH Bethel's News Flash, Best Opposite Sex, owned and shown by Lori Bush. For many years the Specialty continued to be held with Tampa Bay KC during the large Jan Circuit, then it joined a group of other breed Specialty Clubs to hold it separately.  A few times a 2nd Specialty was held in the summer.

Achievements of some early dogs of Club members included Ruth Miller's CH Jor Jan's Bubbling Over (by CH Helarry's Harmony), the first female champion in FL. Her son, CH Rujax Royal Randy (by CH Dorem Denominator), became the #1 miniature schnauzer in the US in the late 1960's.  Lori Bush's CH Shorlaine Dynamic Flash (dam CH Bethel's News Flash), a Best in Show winner, became the #2 in US in the mid 1970's and a top producer of 21 CH's (including CH R Bo's Victory Flash, a Best in Show winner and #1 MS in the US plus top producer of 30 champions). Dynamic Flash is still figuring in pedigrees of winners today.  Connie Mercer owned and finished the first Black and Silver champion in Florida, CH Walsh's Blackberry Sundae.  An item of interest was the fact that there were 4 generations of winners in FWCMSC specialties from CH Bethel's News Flash (BOS in 1970) owned by Lori Bush, to son, CH Shorlaine Dynamic Flash (BB 1977), bred and owned by Lori, to his daughter CH Liebestraum's Bad Mamma Jamma, BB in '84, after Best in Sweeps the previous year ) bred and owned by Ginnie Rice and also his son, CH Marley's Touchdown (BB '83) bred and owned by Millie Marvin. Succeeding these was a fourth generation in double granddaughter of Dynamic Flash, CH Datura's Delta Dart, (Best of Winners '88).  There have been numerous Champions, obedience titleists and agility titleists of Club members over the years.  All of these were owned by FWCMSC members.

In 2003 the club decided to change it's name to reflect that it's membership from all over the state of Florida.  Thus, the name changed to Central Florida Miniature Schnauzer Club.