Welcome to Weatherwax Family page! This page will continually
be a work in progress.... much the same as families.
This page was last updated: May 15, 2008
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Walter Smiley Weatherwax
1867-1943
Other talented members of the family:
Judd Wallis Weatherwax
(1896/7 – 1976)
Dora Neil Weatherwax
(1899 – 19??)
Frank Thrall Weatherwax
(1901- 1991)
William McAlister ("Mac") Weatherwax
(1904 – 1986)
Mae Esther Hawksworth Weatherwax
(1910 – 1990)
Jack Nathan Weatherwax
(1910 – 1968)
Marguerite Gene ("Peggy") Weatherwax
(1913 – 1974)
JoAnn Leona Weatherwax Curtis
(1932 – 2008)
Robert Walter Weatherwax
"Bob"
1941- Present
Ruddell Bird Weatherwax
"Rudd"
1907-1985
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In Memoriam – Bud Ekins
Not to boast, but the talents in my family run deep.
Everyone is familiar with my father's generation that
produced the entertainment industry's most respected dog trainers, including my father (Rudd) and two of his brothers (Frank and Jack). Into my generation, some of us cousins had talent and good luck, and we also
worked hard at our craft. Two of my aunt Peggy's
sons, David and Bud Ekins, excelled at motorcycling
and Hollywood stunt work. Already a racing legend,
Bud added to his fame by doing the most daredevil cycling stunts, particularly for Steve McQueen
(The Great Escape and Bullitt). Bud also taught a lot
of Hollywood's leading men how to ride motorcycles.
In his obituary, published in last week's Los Angeles Times, mention is made of Bud's first fascination with motorcycles, stemming from a ride on his cousin's
1934 Harley-Davidson. The truth behind that story is
that this cousin was my older half-brother, Jackie.
The first motorcycle Bud every rode was the same bike
that Pal – the original Lassie – would chase
when Jackie rode around our North Hollywood
property. Jackie sold the bike to Bud, and it was on
that Harley-Davidson that Bud first raced and won, giving him a taste of the fame that would be
his for the rest of his life.
For my father and for me, nothing was more thrilling
than spending a day riding and racing with Cousin Bud. He gave us some remarkable memories, and I will
always remember him with great affection and respect.
- Bob Weatherwax
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I like to say that I'm the only child who ever really
grew up with Lassie, but I should qualify that statement. My sister, nine years older than me and eight years
older than Pal, saw both the dog and me through our "puppyhoods" and into our adult years.
Although Pal was my official babysitter, JoAnn took
over when the dog was working on set or on location.
Together, she and I worked on many a fun and
not-so-fun job in my father's kennels.
In those days, it was true that the family that worked
together, stayed together. It was especially true for us
Weatherwaxes, since our family home was on the same
property as the kennels that comprised the rough and
tumble assortment of dogs Dad used in the movies.
We helped keep the kennels clean, and we helped
feed the dogs.
In Memoriam
JoAnn Leona Weatherwax Curtis
I remember JoAnn as a great help to both
my mother and father.
Dad often called on her when he was training a dog
for a particular sequence of behaviors or action.
Mom made her an assistant accountant, helping with
the checkbooks and ledgers. In her adult years,
JoAnn married and had four children, three sons
and a daughter. She never worked as a
full-fledged professional dog trainer, although she was
an assistant trainer on the wonderful television series,
Life Goes On.
She also owned dogs who worked in the movies
and television.
My sister may have appeared feisty on the
outside but she had a heart of gold within.
She could be very generous, which she showed in
how she cared for our dad, driving for him when he
no longer could. She did the same for our mom,
taking her into JoAnn's home during Mom's final
illnesses.
JoAnn was always there for my parents
and for me too.
For years, she helped me maintain my kennels
as she had helped our father.
For years, we lived just a mile or so apart.
She loved her animals and always had a number of favorites in her home. Toward the end of her life,
she especially adored a Jack Russell terrier
and a poodle.
Just a few weeks before her death,
I stayed with JoAnn at her home while making
an appearance with Laddie. She and I enjoyed
a long talk all evening and way past midnight.
We reminisced about our youth, about growing up
the way we did, and about our parents.
I will cherish the memory of that conversation
for the rest of my life. Without realizing what we were doing, our stroll down memory lane was a way for us
to be close one last time.
When JoAnn came home from the hospital to
spend her last hours with her family and beloved dogs,
I was able to say good-bye and God speed.
It's awful to watch someone you love suffer
from terminal disease.
Though I miss her so much, I can at least be
content that my sister is at peace.
- Bob Weatherwax
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Rudd with his wife, Mae, their daughter JoAnn,
son Bob, and, of course, Pal
