Walter Wheeler, b. 1924, Houston, was trained professionally from age 6 in cello and dance. As a grade schooler he raised poultry, pets and roses. In Shreveport, L.A. he had record Leghorn flock/egg route. In 1937 he began breeding A.K.C. terriers and studied art, speech, and stagecraft professionally. With a concert pianist mother and violinist brother, the family trio became the city's cultural delight. Walter, at 13, became principal cellist and his brother concert master of the Shreveport Symphony.

At 16 years of age, upon graduation from high school (R.O.T.C.), Council Bluffs, IA, Walter bred his first Sheltie litter; in it, a champion who was cited at age 5, "top sheltie show bitch in the U.S."

After a 2 year scholarship to Creighton University (R.O.T.C.), in 1943 he sold his dogs to enlist, still 18, in combat World War II. At war's end he earned an A.B., 1948 and a M.A., 1950 via G.I. bill from Harvard. Post war, Walter lectured at Curry College and became a Boston Hart Model while managing Forbes Amory's Atlas Enterprise Travel Co.

Walter's final mentor was world famous cellist, Pierre Fournier, and Wheeler was invited to join the Boston Pops. Instead he joined the Dexter School. At "J.F.K.'s school" he taught for 33 years in art, music, glee club, ensemble, public speech (all grades) as well as classes in composition, English literature, Spanish, French and Bible. At day camp he served also as lifeguard for the Olympic pool. While teaching, he organized the Massachusetts Camellia Society, Inc., and the Longhaired Whippet Association Inc.

In 1958 Wheeler coined "WINDSPRITE" after seeing his first fuzzy whippet puppy at the Stoney Meadows Kennel. His Longhaired Whippet project began via kin of that pup and Windsprites's foundation dam, an English and American Kennel Club (A.K.C.) champion with a "lion's mane and squirrel's tail" that had to be trimmed for showing.

Some of his written works include The Independent School Bulletin 4/64, Horticulture 1/71, Popular Dogs 2/58, AKC Gazette 5/67, and issues of The Sighthound. See also Town & Country 2/59 - "Dogdom's Fast Set" and Yankee Magazine 3/89 - centerfold article. In the latter, Walter is quoted extensively.

In 2003 at the age of 79, Mr. Wheeler retired from his accomplished and active life as breeder, cellist, illustrator, portraitist and writer in several fields besides purebred dogs. However, he remains an active Director for the Board of The Longhaired Whippet Association.

WALTER A. WHEELER JR.
Self Portrait (Oil) 1949
Photo Courtesy of Fogg Museum, Harvard - 1949