Introducing New Coonhound Field Rep Mark Vest

December 7, 2022

Source: Trevor Wade
Job Title: Coonhound Program Manager
Email: twade@ukcdogs.com

We are pleased to introduce and welcome Mark Vest of Windom, Texas to our team of Coonhound Field Representatives. Mark was born in 1957 by way of his dad, Morris J. Vest and his mom Francis Vest. His father was a ranch foreman and a coonhunter. Mark and his wife, Debbie, have two grown children which in turn have blessed them with 2 granddaughters.

Marks passion for coonhunting can be attributed to his dad. Together they spent many nights in the woods together. They hunted primarily non-registered dogs from the time Mark was five years old until he was a freshman in high school. In 1973, he purchased his first registered Bluetick Coonhound from his Ag Teacher at school. Mark was interested in competing with hounds from the beginning. In 1992, he placed his Bluetick female, Dixie, at the Zones and competed in the World Finals that was held in Crockett, TX. She was awarded High Scoring Bluetick Female that weekend.

Mark has his hands all over the competition landscape in the state of Texas. He is currently the President of the Lamar Coonhunters Association in Paris, Texas and has held the office of President with the Texas State Coonhunters Association for the past five years. Over the past five years, he has accepted and completed multiple assignments for UKC, and we look forward to adding him to our team in an official capacity. The fact that his upcoming January retirement from 45 years in the power industry is on the horizon makes it the perfect time to make this move. In addition to working some events for UKC, he will also have more time to focus on family, fishing, and hunting his beloved Blueticks.

Marks responsibilities as a UKC Coonhound Field Rep will include serving as an event official in events such as the Coonhound World Championship, UKC Tournament of Champions, Autumn Oaks, Winter Classic, and any other assignments that might come along. UKC looks forward to working with Mr. Vest. Please join us in welcoming him to an outstanding group of individuals who are currently serving as well as those who have served in the past.

Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 18,000 licensed events annually.