George Ekdahl; trained dogs for field-trial contests

George T. Ekdahl, 96, of West Chester, an avid dog breeder, owner, and trainer of dogs for field trials, died Monday, April 25, of pneumonia at Chester County Hospital.

Mr. Ekdahl was born in Chicago and reared in Columbus, Ohio. At age 14, he bought his first bird dog and entered it in a field trial, beginning a lifelong fascination with the sport, according to American Field, a magazine about sporting dogs.In the 1950s, Mr. Ekdahl bred, showed, and trained champion Weimaraners, but he found his calling in breeding and field-training English setters.

"He loved their physical beauty and sweet natured temperament. He focused on dogs that were poetry in motion and looked to breed the best setters he could find," daughter Bobbie Ekdahl wrote in a tribute to her father in the magazine.

In general, field trials are competitions designed to mimic a hunter and his dog's quest for game. The dogs are judged on their ability to point at game and retrieve it, although Mr. Ekdahl did not participate in "shoot to kill" trials in which birds are killed and retrieved.

The trials are sponsored by the American Kennel Club, the Canadian Kennel Club, the American Field Trial Clubs of America, and other groups.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Ekdahl was active in local field trials; he also competed at the state and national levels. Later, he ran two field trials a year for pointers and English setters.

"He loved his setters, and he had some good ones over the years," said longtime friend and fellow dog fancier Ed Kerr.

Mr. Ekdahl's top English setters were: Zev's Commander Fleet; Ch. Ultimate Issue; Ch. Saipan Lil; Ultimate Nick; Ch. High Ball II; Ch. Grouse Ridge Pip; and Ultimate Reissue - the 2000 National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Champion, perhaps his favorite.

"I remember Ultimate Reissue. It was a just a great bird dog," Kerr said. Bird dogs must be compatible, intelligent, and have stamina, desire, and the ability to find game "and point it staunchly," meaning according to a certain form, Kerr said.

"These dogs are bred to work," Kerr said. "It's in their heart."

Kerr, whose breed is Brittany spaniels, said Mr. Ekdahl was instrumental in getting the Delaware Valley Brittany Club open space to run its field trials during the 1970s on the former King Ranch and the Hannum estate in Chester County.

"He was the go-between," Kerr said. "I was a union crane operator, George was a professional man. George had a good rapport with those people and kept the grounds open so we could run our dogs."

Mr. Ekdahl graduated from Central High School in Columbus in 1939 and joined the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he attended Ohio State on the GI Bill.

Mr. Ekdahl was a founding member of the All Breed Training Club of Columbus. He met Priscilla Alden while teaching a dog obedience class for the club.

Despite the fact that her poodle ran out an open door and down a busy street, sparking a lively chase, the two decided to date, their daughter said. They married in 1955. His wife, a psychologist, enthusiastically supported his dog activities.

A mechanical engineer, Mr. Ekdahl moved from the Midwest to West Chester to work for a chemical company. In 1970, he started his own business, the EPIC Chemical Co., and worked until age 85.

He was a leader of the Happy Valley Field Trial Club in Newtown Square and the leader of the Brandywine Bird Dog Club based in Chester County.

In the 1970s, he left the Happy Valley Club to focus on running the Brandywine Club and continued running field trials until he was 92. He made time to mentor novice dog handlers.

"George gave many people their first judging assignments; he made time to bring along many people with an interest in the sport, often giving dogs to people who had an interest, provided that they would hunt or would run the dog in trials," his daughter wrote.

He was an enthusiastic Ohio State football fan, a proud veteran, a regular voter, and a Civil War buff with a sharp, clear mind. He enjoyed voicing his opinions on myriad topics, his daughter said.

Mr. Ekdahl's wife died in 2015. Besides his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Elizabeth Ogard.

Mr. Ekdahl chose cremation. A memorial service and the scattering of his ashes will take place later.

bcook@phillynews.com

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