Carson loses beloved character
Bill Williamson, a man made famous by his car-driving dogs, died Tuesday, three weeks after cancer also took his beloved golden retriever Beau. For at least four decades, with four different dogs, Williamson participated in the Nevada Day Parade, riding shotgun in his Model T Ford with Buddy, Beaver, Budd or Beauregard behind the wheel.And most Christmases in recent memory, there was Williamson and his dog Budd and then Beau, carrying Santa Claus to the Capitol tree-lighting ceremony downtown.Williamson never revealed the secret of how he pulled off the feat.The dogs garnered national attention for the former Carson City gas station owner. Man and best friend appeared on television programs in the '70s and '80s. In fact, his first car-driving dog, Buddy, appeared on the program "Hee Haw" for three seasons, driving Junior Samples' car.In September 2002, Williamson and Budd won a Purina dog food pet contest.