Ronnie Lee, of Louisville, Mississippi, was presented with the 2024 MNRCF Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year award on February 6, 2025.
Jack Morris, President of the MNRC Foundation presented Ronnie Lee with the award at a ceremony held at the Nanih Waiya Community Park in Louisville. He was surrounded by family, friends and many members of the retriever community. Morris presented Lee with a plaque, pin, and a $1,000 check. Morris told the crowd Lee has been training dogs and competing in AKC weekend hunt tests and the annual MNRCHT event since the late 1990’s.
During his career Lee handled Becky Lou’s Bayou Beamer to an amazing MNH9 title. Lee has also collected nearly 100 pewter plates while competing at annual MNRC events and has handled many dogs into the MNRC Hall of Fame. Additionally, Lee has mentored and encouraged then 17-year-old Emma Simon as she worked toward getting a MH title on her chocolate lab and ultimately competing with her dog in the 2017 MNRCHT. Emma was named the first MNRCF Youth Handler of the Year in 2017.
In his closing remarks, Morris said that Lee is often the first one on site and the last one to leave at the Master National events. Lee exhibits the true qualities of sportsmanship and meets or exceeds the AKC Code of Ethics. He is dedicated to his trade, this sport, and his dogs.
We congratulate Ronnie Lee, 2024 Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year.
See a List of all Handler of the Year recipients.
