Former Union pupil brings a tale to kids

The runt of her litter and struck by a car, Foxy made an unlikely sled dog.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Ed White left Union Elementary in 1951 after first grade, when his family moved.
He returned Wednesday, the author of a children's book, "Foxy's Tale," based on the adventures of his daughter, Kelly, and the family sled dog, Foxy.
The schoolchildren recently read the book.
White doesn't remember much about his young years in Poland, but his class photograph shows a tiny, smiling boy in the second row.
"I was the smallest kid in this school," he told Union pupils.
The family moved to Yardley, Pa., when White's father, who worked in the steel mills, got transferred.
He and his wife, Sandy, both attended Penn State University and in 1983, White accepted a job with the federal Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska.
A few years later, their daughter, Kelly, started dog-sled racing with Foxy, the family's Alaskan husky. The runt of her litter, Foxy was an unlikely champion.
"When she first started racing, people would look at her and laugh because she was so small," White said.
But Foxy's speed hushed their laughter.
The dog's success is even more surprising because she was struck by a car when she was about 18 months old.
About the book
White's book, published in 1995, tells Foxy's story from the dog's point of view, from her birth until she won the Junior World Championship Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska.
He and his wife returned to Pennsylvania in 2000 after retirement. Kelly, now 29, is a guidance counselor at a middle school in Fairfax, Va.
The children sat on their knees, raising their hands to answer White's questions about the book. The author rewarded correct responses with fake pieces of liver -- Foxy's favorite treat -- and a pat on the head.
Second-graders Claire Morris and David Gessler, both 8, enjoyed the book and White's presentation.
"I liked the part when Foxy won her first race," David said.
Claire favored the end of the book when Foxy reunited with her mother, Rosie, for another race.
While both children believe they'd like to try dog sledding, neither think their family pets are up to the challenge.
David's dog, Ray, a mixed breed, is old and hard of hearing, he explained.
"My dad is talking about maybe getting another dog -- a girl named Petey," he said.
Like the pet on "The Little Rascals" television show, Petey has a ring around her eye.
Claire's dog, Scruffy, a bichon frise, isn't cut to pull a sled, either.
"He doesn't listen very good and my dad says he's stupid," she said.