Mr. Verbanck is dead. His passing will sadly affect those who knew him well, those who have worked for many years for our Berger Belge (Belgian sheepdog), those who kept company with him at the rings, where he officiated with great composure, authority and rectitude, and all those who consulted him for advice.
The oldest of ten children, Mr. Felix Eugene Verbanck was born in Gand, Belgium, on September 28, 1885. He was married in Gand on December l9, 1906 to Clementina de Schrljver. Born into a family which loved dogs to its soul, he became, beginning in 1908 a founding member of the National Society for the Improvement of the Chien de Berger Belge, a breed which was always particularly close to his heart. Field work and tracking were the main pursuits of this society. Mr. Verbanck demonstrated, from this time period, the importance he attached to a breed's character and its ability to work.
During this period of his youth, he came to know Louis Huyghebaert (Ter Heide), the celebrated amateur and breeder of Malinois, as well as Joseph Moutoule, an exploiter of the Walloon language spoken in the Belgian province of Brabant, who selected pure bred dogs (among which were Malinois, Schipperkes, Bouviers des Flandres, Pointers end Korthals Griffons) for his farming needs. The company of these early pioneers of Belgian cynophile developed in Mr. Verbanck his relish for a pure bred dog. His contact with Charles HUGE, another great breeder, catalyzed his aspirations and strengthened his attraction for beautiful and good dogs. At first attracted to hunting dogs, whose working ability offered his eyes immediate justification, he became the breeder of Pointers, Gordon Setters, but above all, of English Setters, having his good bitches serviced by trial winners.
Before 1914, and then after the first World War, Mr. Verbanck dedicated himself to the breeding of the short hair Berger Belge. But his first results in this variety were not crowned with glory.
But it was always the most total and loyal amateurism which guided the research and the experiences of this eminent dog lover (cynophile). He developed, in the very bosom of his family, his undeniable talent as a well informed and valuable counselor. He suggested to his brother Joseph Verbanck, an owner of motor boats, that Schipperkes would be less 'cumbersome' than the Malinois, and so Joseph began a Schipperke kennel. For his brother Florimond Verbanck, he chose the Bouvier des Flandres, whose imposing size, hardiness, and strength were adapted to Florimond's life as a farm (of fodder) manager. Eventually Florimond, after having bred some Bouvier litters, turned his attention to the Malinois of Felix Verbanck and to the Schipperkes of Joseph Verbanck.
Having acquired from Mr. A. Hanappe (of the Jolimont kennel), the celebrated SIBELLE de Jolimont, Mr. Verbanck finally began a flourishing Malinois kennel. SIBELLE, in effect, bred to some proven studs of A. Crunelle, (of Pimprenelles kennel) and to some consanguine studs, came to endow the Ecaillon kennel with its best products.
His professional occupation called him near to Valenciennes in France. Mr. Verbanck, as a result, moved the first of July 1909 to Thiant, on the banks of the Eecaut, at the mouth of the Ecaillon River, which furnished him his kennel name. There he pursued his profession as attache director for the Belgian firm of 'Colonia Rubber'. And, he very quickly joined into numerous dog activities, where his initiative and his work were highly valued.
While the Malinois from Ecaillon with the celebrated FRAM and FIDELE, GLADLATEUR and GLANEUR, IVAN and IDEAL, JOLIE‑FILLE, all show winners, were highly praised, his English Setters did not stand in the rear. It is only necessary to cite Countess Sheila de l'Ecaillon, the mother of Champion Fakir des Resedas. A championship title at this time was quite difficult to obtain. In 1930 the kennel imported from England a pair of Cockers. The period of 1940-1945, during World War II, was a trying time for our kennels, and Mr. Verbanck's kennel was no exception. His best Malinois reproducers disappeared. Nevertheless, NERVIEN de l'Ecaillon allowed him to continue competition and breeding. Sadly, NERVIEN died at 4 years of age. PAN des Pimprenelles and TAQUINE de l'Ecaillon, the mother of XANTE de l'Ecaillon (by the Tervuren, Tjap de la Brigade), as well as SARAH van Veldekens, the mother of the celebrated ULTIMA de l'Ecaillon. Since high quality studs were rare in the Malinois variety XANTE was the daughter of TJOP de la Brigade the long hair grandson of the Malinois IDEAS, and IVAN de l'Ecaillon. Little by little, the kennel of Ecaillon ceased its production. In proportion to the events of his life his retirement in 1950 took him back to Gand, and forced Mr. Verbanck to surrender his kennel.
But paralleling his extremely valuable career as a breeder, he mainlined the functions of International Judge of Berger Beige and Schipperkes, his judgments being extremely sought after and followed. Many amateurs profited from their contact with him. He continued his studies, possessing a valuable library and he remained at the disposal of the Cynologie, fulfilling the functions of Secretary General for two breed clubs, one of which, the Royal Groenendael Club, he had to abandon only in the last few years, due to his advancing age. He performed exceptionally well as the head of this club, acting sensibly, intelligently, and rigorously scientific. He was deeply interested in genetics, and because of his perfect knowledge of German, English and French, this Flemish man was able to examine a large and extended body of scientific literature. Very quickly he understood that type and character were the rightful inheritance of a breed, and he relegated the notion of varieties founded only on the texture and the color of a coat to secondary importance. Claiming that one variety alone can not possess in itself all of the characteristics of a breed, he concluded with appropriate reason, that the entire breed was able to only benefit from the infusions of blood from alliances between the varieties. Thus he shunned either a too straight consanguinity or the search for doubtful and dangerous tempering from another breed. How many times did he repeat the point to us that a good production can be founded only on type and character and that color was only a question of taste and that it didn't have any importance provided that the pigmentation didn't completely degenerate. Inspired in his conception of the selection of the Belgian shepherd breed, he had to adopt the measures, which, after the last world war, were allowed for the re‑creation of a kennel of worth. France, which very closely followed his advice, and adopted the directives coming from the country of origin (Belgium) under his impetus, was able only to be well pleased with him, since its breeding stock gained in quality and in quantity in all of the bred varieties.
Mr. Verbanck maintained scientific relations with the most diverse foreign universities, exchanging notions and ideas with his informed correspondents, guiding his amateurs and the working dog enthusiasts and the breeders. Thanks to a perfect knowledge of the cynologie and of the breeds which he held dear, he explained to the young what experience and knowledge had allowed him to understand. He was never stingy with his help and his reception will remain always alive in our memories, because he was a simple, good natured, and earnest man. Often over some drinks, we examined innumerable notes and documents, of which he always offered copies and duplicates, which were, for many of us, of inestimable help. Always current of the innovations, discoveries or progress dealing with genetics, biology, physics, as well as other sciences, he had an analytical and curious mind, which matured from long reflections, in order to produce a concrete synthesis....
As a result of many months of illness, Mr. F. E. Verbanck died at his home in Mariakerke on March 23, 1973. His funeral was celebrated at the church of Saint‑Martinus d'Ekkergem (near Gand) on March 27th.
It will not be possible for all of the 'old cynologues' to forget his personality, his honesty. Under the calm impassable Flemish character was hidden a vibrant sensibility, which shone through in a smile tinted with humor, while a laconic phrase revealed the modesty of an exceptional soul, the conciseness of a live and clear mind....
Angel's Lair Bouvier