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Full Circle within a Small World!

Discussion in 'The Taxidermy Industry' started by Wingnut, May 13, 2015.

  1. May 13, 2015 #1
    Wingnut

    Wingnut Member

    136
    4
    When I was a young boy, growing up in Southern California, my father, being an avid pilot, shared a pilot-auto mechanic with another "aviator" mechanic, that lived and worked in San Bernadino, California. On weekends, we would drive from the Glendale area to the mechanic shop for my father's auto repairs, and within the office of these gentleman, was a mounted, flying, cinnamon teal drake. At the ages of ten through fourteen, I traveled along to stand in front of the office and stare at the beautiful little teal mount, and dream that, perhaps, one day, I could be so talented as to actually place, just such a mount, on my wall! Years of work, study, hunting and collecting allowed me to move closer to my dreams, and meeting many taxidermists through the years, and with the exchange of ideas and techniques, I have ventured further into my youth's dream-world than I ever would have expected. Years later, I find myself standing, with well-known "bird-brains" from around the U.S. and Sweden, carefully analyzing beautiful entries in this past World Show in Springfield, in front of a little rooster on a weathervane, neatly mounted, walking across the vane, perhaps challenging the vane it's self, or watching dawn rise over his domain, in a 'vane' attempt to find an error within the mount. Not a real issue was to be found! And, upon the awards banquet, I find that the taxidermist that mounted the beautiful little rooster, was, indeed, Tony Finazzo! Full circle, within a Small World, you ask? The dreams of my youth were spurred onward from a Cinnamon Teal mount within an office an hour from my house, why the connection, that, last week, I was able to judge a World Show? Because I remember the late sixties, as if it happened yesterday, me asking the Mechanic-Owner of the autoshop, who had mounted the little teal, his answer, "My friend, Tony Finazzo"! Congratulations, Tony! and thanks for the years of inspiration!!! Maybe one day, I'll tell all of you some of Tony's "other" achievements, like, what a great Cinnamon Teal retriever Tony is.........
     
  3. May 13, 2015 #2
    finazducks

    finazducks EJ is not the only one to have two Wasco Awards

    1,745
    6
    SanBernardino, California
    Thanks so much for the kind words Dave. The World Show is a humbling experience, and even if you're lucky enough to win. You can be swept away with emotion. What an honor to even be there among the worlds best taxidermists. and I'm so lucky that many of them are My friends. I want to thank everyone that reached out to Me with their encouragement along a long and bumpy road. My winning this award should give hope to so Many of you that are much more talented than I. When I was playing sports and later coaching I learned that winning was important, but not as important as doing everything possible to try and win. Striving to be the Best is impossible, but You can get much closer with the right preparation.
     

  5. May 13, 2015 #3
    Instructor

    Instructor Member

    302
    2
    A true Champion you are Tony!your piece deserved all it got.!

    Manny
     
  6. May 13, 2015 #4
    MRN

    MRN Member

    201
    20
    Iron Ridge, WI
    Congrats again Tony! Awesome mount, very worthy of the title!
    Mikey
     
  7. May 13, 2015 #5
    Billw

    Billw Member

    88
    0
    Great Job Tony Loved your piece!

    BillW
    Michigan
     
  8. May 13, 2015 #6
    IU Doug

    IU Doug Member

    144
    0
    Thanks for sharing a great story. While I do not know Tony personally, I have bought some heads from him and he seems to be a class act!
     
  9. May 14, 2015 #7
    michael p.

    michael p. Getting better with age :)

    25,278
    11
    Texas Damnit!!
    Awesome story about an awesome man!
     
  10. May 14, 2015 #8
    magicmick

    magicmick magicmick

    2,194
    1,389
    Sydney,Australia
    Great story, its funny how things turn out some times. meant to be.
     
  11. May 14, 2015 #9
    Darius

    Darius Member

    90
    1
    Congrats Tony.......well deserved !
     
  12. May 15, 2015 #10
    Doug Motgomery

    Doug Motgomery Active Member

    1,176
    6
    IND
    Congrats Tony............
     
  13. May 15, 2015 #11
    Matt

    Matt Active Member

    10,839
    3
    Outstanding Tony, congrats!
     
  14. May 15, 2015 #12
    rbear

    rbear Well-Known Member

    1,535
    41
    DeWitt Michigan
    What a great story. Congratulations Tony.
    Ralph
     
  15. May 16, 2015 #13
    finazducks

    finazducks EJ is not the only one to have two Wasco Awards

    1,745
    6
    SanBernardino, California
    I just want to hug everybody I ever learned anything from about taxidermy. hell I just want to hug everybody. Even the one idiot I know.
     
  16. May 16, 2015 #14
    JessiJD

    JessiJD New Member

    99
    0
    Tony, you remember just a few short years ago when you judged my very first show in texas?? (Piece in my icon look familiar :) Learning from guys like Dave and yourself is reason i am where I am. No doubt.

    Did my first actual bird from a breakthrough issue article by mr. dave Luke 23 years ago.

    You guys are my heros.

    Congratulations my friend. You have no idea how happy I am for you. Especially since ypu did it with a chicken! WTG!
     
  17. May 16, 2015 #15
    finazducks

    finazducks EJ is not the only one to have two Wasco Awards

    1,745
    6
    SanBernardino, California
    Lowell, I'm glad you didn't say WTF. lol Of course I remember. Your artistry was very apparent even than and I knew you had great things waiting for You. The sky is the limit for you my friend. I can't wait to see what you come up with next. Even though you didn't study under Me I'm very proud of You. The greatest acievement a teacher or parent can have is for their student or child to surpass them in life. Thanks for your kind words and hope to see your artistry again soon.