In Memory Of
Willard George
"The Chinchilla Industry's Greatest Friend"

      This award is given in honor of a man so dedicated to the development of the Chinchilla industry that it is to him that today’s modern Chinchilla industry owes its development.
     In 1947 Willard George was a successful furrier being owner of ‘The Antelier Shop,’ an exclusive salon on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.  His salon slogan ‘we search the earth for furs of worth’ was truly correct.
     Working with Chinchilla for many years he observed an improvement in quality over the first pelts received from South America in the 1920’s.  However, he also recognized a need for continuing improvement if the industry was to survive and progress.  Using his trained eyes and skills he developed the first nationally used grading system for Chinchillas.  It was formally adopted by the National Chinchilla Breeders Board in 1947.
     Practicing what he preached, he became one of the foremost judges in the industry.  Traveling from coast to coast, Willard George ‘taught’ Chinchilla.  His lectures at seminars and shows stressed confirmation, size, fur (density), bar, underfur, texture, guard hair and prime.  His ‘’Keynotes to Quality’’ became a bible to early ranchers.  Willard George also saw the need for continuity in dressed pelt shape.  As a furrier he acquired pelts of all shapes and sizes.  Pointing out to the industry the difficulty of working these misshapen pelts into a fine garment, he developed a chart for proper shaping of raw pelts.  We still adhere to this rule of thumb today.
     Another accomplishment of the modern-day pioneer included negotiating a contract with Farmers Chinchilla Co-op of America to store pelts from them in his salon storage vaults until sufficient quantities were available for sale.   As late as 1952 there were still not enough Chinchilla pelts to market them on a national basis.  But he kept the faith.
     In 1953 he was known as the oldest judge in the industry.  Trainee judges studied under him, learning from the master.

Raw Pelts		Dressed Pelts
1956 - R.E. Hughes	1964 - Ramon Somavia	1971 - Ramon Somavia
1957 - Ramon Somavia	1965 - Ramon Somavia	1972 - A. Shelyski
1958 - Ramon Somavia	1966 - Ramon Somavia	1973 - S - P Ranch
1959 - S.W. Pangborn	1967 - Ramon Somavia	1974 - Enchanted Farms
1960 - Ramon Somavia	1968 - Ramon Somavia	1975 - Bud Bowen
1961 - Ramon Somavia	1969 - Ramon Somavia	1976 - Bud Bowen
1962 - Ramon Somavia	1970 - Ramon Somavia	1977 - Chapin Hand
1963 - Ramon Somavia		1978 - Sunflower Chins

1979 - Sunflower Chins	1987 - Ralph Shoots	1995 - Holzer y Holzer
1980 - Sunflower Chins	1988 - Ralph Shoots	1996 - Ralph Shoots
1981 - Jim Ritterspach	1989 - Ralph Shoots	1997 - Ralph Shoots
1982 - Dale Look	1990 - Ralph Shoots	1998 - Ralph Shoots
1983 - Ralph Shoots	1991 - Jim Ritterspach	1999 - Ralph Shoots
1984 - Ralph Shoots	1992 - Ralph shoots	2000 - Bowen Chins
1985 - Jim Ritterspach	1993 - Ralph Shoots	2001 - Ralph Shoots
1986 - Ralph Shoots	1994 - Ralph Shoots	2002 - Bowen Chins