in memory
M.E (DOC) Caraway

      M.E. caraway, better know as Doc Caraway, was one of the pioneers of the Chinchilla industry and a member of Empress since the inception of this group and a member of NCBA for many years before Empress was formed.  He was secretary of MCBA for some fourteen years.  His genetic research and study has been a basis of our knowledge of mutation Chinchilla since they first occurred.  He has published many articles through the years relative to genetics and mutations.
     Doc Caraway’s main love was the genetics of mutations and he was one who proved by his own research the existence of the lethal gene in the Wilson White when it was the only mutation commercially available.  Besides carrying out his activities as the chief of a large group of machinists at General Dynamics for some 20 years, he was able to keep a large herd of Chinchillas for many years with the help of his wife, Olita.  He was able to breed practically all the known mutations and carry out his mutation research.
     Few men in the Chinchilla industry have done so much for Chinchillas as Doc Caraway.  In his twenty-five years in the industry, with his untiring enthusiasm, he has been a help to all the Chinchilla organizations and an active part of them and, of course, pioneered our present genetic knowledge of chinchillas the dissemination of same.
     Doc was struck down prematurely with cancer in May of 1976.  He left behind two Chinchilla organizations which he was instrumental in building as well as their show systems which he had worked on for over twenty years, and a wealth of genetic knowledge which now is well disseminated and easily available to anyone.  Certainly he is worthy of our greatest respect and honor.

1979 - Enchanted Farms	1989 - Jim Ritterspach	1999 - Vin Somavia
1980 - Enchanted Farms	1990 - Vin Somavia	2000 - Vin Somavia
1981 - Jim Ritterspach	1991 - Vin Somavia	2001 - Vin Somavia
1982 - (Tie) Ralph Shoots                      Diamond Blue	1992 - Vin Somavia	2002 - Vin Somavia
1983 - Jim Ritterspach	1993 - Vin Somavia	2003 - Vin Somavia
1984 - Diamond Blue	1994 - Vin Somavia	2004 - Vin Somavia
1985 - Diamond Blue	1995 - Vin Somavia	2005 - Vin Somavia
1986 - Vin Somavia	1996 - Vin Somavia	2006 - Vin Somavia
1987 - Vin Somavia	1997 - Vin Somavia	2007 - Vin Somavia
1988 - PSK Ranch	1998 - Vin Somavia	2008 - Vin Somavia