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LESTER MAPES
Monson, Massachusetts
Herding Group
 It's appropriate that Lester Mapes, someone born and raised on a working dairy farm, will judge the Herding Group at Westminster in 2004.
As a child growing up in Plato Center, Illinois, Les spent much of his youth working the farm with cattle, horses and dogs. It seemed only natural for him to get involved eventually with the dogs in conformation showing, and he started showing Great Danes in 1963. He also owned and exhibited Dachshunds, Doberman Pinschers and West Highland White Terriers.
Les is a member, a current and past board member, and past president for a number of dog clubs. Les is married to Judy Harrington, a retired professional dog handler who is also a judge. They share their home with Decatur, the top Australian Shepherd in the country in 1999; a whippet named Beep; and a young Australian Shepherd named Ba-Da-Bing. While they are all still involved in conformation, Les and Judy also train their dogs for herding and community service work.
In addition to his success in the dog world, Les is also a talented musician and theater performer. He plays five different musical instruments, studied voice and dance for more than ten years, and performed with the Rhythm Kings dance band. In community theatre, he has played Big Daddy in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Willie in The Sunshine Boys, and many other lead roles.
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