Camp and dogs performing at Bears’ halftime tonight

Published 8:13 am Thursday, August 11, 2016

Bill Camp and his highflying disc dog act have come full circle.

Camp started with the Chicago Bears 30 years ago.

Tonight, he and Highflyin Star will be performing at halftime of the Chicago Bears preseason opener against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field.

Camp, who is from Cassopolis, but lists Niles as his hometown, has performed in front of thousands of people all over the country, including more than 300 National Football League halftime shows.

“I started out with the Bears,” Camp said. “I am doing a ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ show. Highflyin Star is the Midwest disc dog champion. She is considered the best leaping dog in the country.”

Camp has worked with 22 dogs over 30 years, all of which have been rescue dogs. Highflyin Star has been with Camp for the past four years.

“I got a call that she was tied up in the back yard with a chain around her neck,” he said. “So I drove 100 miles to Holland and got her. She was a mess. The vet had her for two straight weeks.”

His grandson, Blake Lubawy, an eighth-grader at Niles Ring Larder, will be helping him with the show.

Camp, who is a retired railroad worker, does just three NFL halftime shows a year now.