Vic's Diploma Page ...
well... "Keep the Best-Toss the Rest" that is...
Now, I realize that some people might find it odd, but Vic had a reputation for throwing away certificates that he didn’t feel were worth retaining. Truth be told, during his successful racing career of over 50+ years, the vast majority of his birds have won races, so he felt compelled to focus on the best and discard the rest.
As you may expect, he focused on the middle- and long-distance race diplomas while discarding the majority of the short distance diplomas. However, if you had approached Vic about this, he would have replied, “How many binders do you want me to buy? “I don’t need all of those.” His birds had to finish at the top of the charts in order to preserve their diploma.
In Vic’s mind, sending his birds on short races was meager exercise. Basically, he considered these races a training toss. He was not into breeding big powerhouse birds that dominated the 100- and 200-mile races, but rather smaller-sleek birds with the endurance to pace themselves for the long-haul races. Hence his legendary, strategically cultivated middle- and long-distance bloodline.
Vic was all about the Long Races...
Over the course of his long career, Vic accumulated an astounding array of certifications, which included...
Ace Pigeon Awards, Champion Loft Awards, Team Championship Awards, 2-Bird Team Certification Awards, Average Speed Awards, Marathon Awards, and, yes, a few Hall of Fame Awards are among the items contained in the binders listed below.
Career "Highlights"
Fun fact: the majority of his certifications came from birds recognized merely by their band numbers, with no professional photographs or names. Without intending to boast, Vic spent several years developing the ideal training regimen for his bloodline, resulting in a loft full of winners. We used to remark that his worst bird was another person’s best bird.
Diploma Binders
Vic stored his diplomas in three-ring binders for safekeeping.
Wall of Honors
Some of the more recent awards he proudly hung on his walls.
Special Awards
Some of his first-ever favorite birds.
