Paul Gamino's Parlor Rollers

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This article appeared in the American Parlor Roller Association January bulletin 2002.

Out and About

By Paul Gamino

        Once again, the social aspect of the Pigeon hobby is great.  With the Internet, I can talk to Terry Duez and a host of others in our club on average three to four times a day and they sometimes live on different sides of the World.  You can share pictures of your loft and send pictures of your young as they develop.  A person can do just so many more things via the Internet that one cannot do with a telephone, not to mention its saves a bundle on phone bills (Just ask Bill Mustin because he tells me his phone bills are out of this world). 

        For those that don’t know, Terry Duez has put together a nice little Website on the Internet for our club to reach out to the world and promote the American Parlor Roller Association.  Speaking of worldly events, did everyone hear about the New World Record of 204’ 2” that was set at this year’s Pageant of Pigeons in San Bernardino California?  Of course, life wouldn’t be complete unless there was a bit of controversy in ones life, especially the author of this article.

        What happened, for those that don’t know already, is Paul Gamino (yours truly) had an almond hen band number 08 roll 204’ 2”.  In a vote of two votes to one, Kirk Milnor and Bill Mustin voted against the hen’s recognition as a New American Parlor Roller Association Club record and one vote for recognition of the 204’ 2” distance was cast by Terry Duez.  Now the above statement may appear to sound as if I’m upset or feel I’ve been dealt an unfair ruling.  This is not the case and I wish to make it clear that I have no hard feelings toward Kirk Milnor or Bill Mustin for voting not to certify or make my Almond hens 204’ 2” a new club record.  I respect their decision and will support our club to the best of my ability. 

For those that are wondering what all the fuss is about, Kirk Milnor and Bill Mustin did not recognize my almond hen as the new club record holder because I was the only American Parlor Roller Association member rolling at this years Pageant of Pigeons.  As clearly stated in our Administrative Rules, “A club officer or Regional Director and two club members must witness the event to receive certification.”  During the Pageant of Pigeons, I was there holding  a Western Regional meet for the American Parlor Roller Association and the rest of the people either competing or that were there witnessing the New World Record for distance rolled were not American Parlor Roller Association members.  Therefore, according to the rules, my record breaking almond hen will not be certified or recognized by the club as the new club record holder.  That honor is still held by Kirk Milnor and his fine almond cock that rolled 191’ 2”. 

At first I was disappointed that my young almond hen, band number 08, was not going to be recognized for her 204’ 2” roll because of a rule that was set up originally to discourage people from having little lawn show get-togethers and certifying Parlor Rollers or possibly claming a world record.  Then, I realized that my hen should be deprived of the club record that is held by Kirk Milnor’s almond cock that rolled 191’ 2” because rules are in place for a reason and should be held with the highest regard and enforced. 

It was unfortunate that I was the only member at the 2001 Pageant of Pigeons.  It is also unfortunate that the roll can’t be an American Parlor Roller Association club record, nevertheless, a rule is a rule and I respect our club’s policies and the officers that enforce them. 

On the other hand, that’s not to say my almond hen’s efforts will not be recognized by other governing bodies as well as Kirk Milnor and Bill Mustin.  Not to mention the dozen or so people very certifiable and credible witnesses who observed the hen roll 204’ 2” and set a new World Record for distance.  My almond hen is also being recognized by the club and the rest of the world as the Pageant of Pigeons Grand Champion, National Pigeon Association national record holder and the New World Record holder for distance rolled. 

The Pageant of Pigeons was an exciting event and I couldn’t have asked a better group of people to witness the effort of my young almond hen.  The exciting field of competitors and observers included Betty Peters, John Valencia, Robert “Bob” Nolan, Eddie Verdugo, Richard Rangel, Joe Espinosa, Dick Eastwood, Dennis Briggs and Paul Gamino (see Photo Below). 

        The following is a short synopsis of a few of the individuals who witnessed the first Parlor Roller going beyond two hundred feet in competition. Betty Peters’, widow of the late great Merrill Peters, was gracious enough to record the distances of all fifty-seven Parlor Rollers that were rolled twice.  Betty Peters, a great Parlor Roller breeder in her own right, has had Parlor Rollers for more than a half-century.  John Valencia and Eddie Verdugo were at the measuring wheel relaying the distances to Betty Peters.  John Valencia is a former Pageant of Pigeons winner himself and more widely known in the Parlor Roller world as an organizer of the Pacific Parlor Roller Club.  Eddie Verdugo, also a former Pageant of Pigeons winner.  Eddie a stanch supporter of Parlor Rollers and Dutch Tumblers at the Pageant of Pigeons is a long time breeder from California.  Robert “Bob” Nolan, better known for being a Master Breeder of English Trumpeters, has won the Parlor Roller competition at the Pageant of Pigeons for the last two years in a row.  Paul Gamino (yours truly) coming up on 35 years straight of breeding nothing but Parlor rollers, and a former World Record holder at the 1981 Pageant of Pigeons, and, something I’m very pleased to have accomplished, the first person to break the 100’ mark and now to break the 200’ barrier and to do it at the very same prestigious show.  The above synopsis of these few individuals could be easily turned into novel about Parlor Rollers.  The point being is that I was not the only person to see my almond hen roll 204’ 2” and set a new World Record. 

Another bit of history was made after I wrote the above article for our fine club.  The odds were heavily against my favor to be honored the font cover of the Pageant of Pigeons Illustrated Show Catalog.  In an extremely close vote (one vote!  Thank you very much Robert “Bob” Nolan), the board of directors of the Los Angeles Pigeon Club voted to have my almond hen, which I’ve decided to name “Betty” after Betty Peters, is going to be the first Parlor Tumbler or Roller ever to be featured on the cover of the Pageant of Pigeons Illustrated Show Catalog.   I'm excited about that because the show report is 97 years old and to say the least about the Los Angles Pigeon Club there is a great deal of prestige to have your bird on the cover of The Great Pageant of Pigeons Illustrated Show Catalog.  

From left to right: Paul Gamino, Betty Peters, Robert "Bob" Nolan, Dick Eastwood, Joe Espinosa, Eddie Verdugo, John Valencia, and Dennis Briggs of Idaho who's not shown because he's taking the photo.