- Mr. Inn rescued the original Benji from the Burbank Animal Shelter in 1960. It grew up to star in the TV series Petticoat Junction and came out of retirement years later to make the first Benji film, which was shot in McKinney. The popular movie series was created by Dallas' Joe Camp.
- During a career spanning six decades, Mr. Inn trained animals for dozens of movies and TV shows. His students included Cleo the basset hound from the 1950s Jackie Cooper show People's Choice and the nearly 500 animals that appeared in The Beverly Hillbillies.
- On all Benji films, TV series and specials, Mr. Inn, looking like a friendly sea captain, was a big, affable presence on the set. When Mr. Camp undertook the marketing of the original Benji himself, Mr. Inn and the pooch accompanied him on a cross-country tour, making friends and boosting the little film into a box-office winner.
- "Most of the trainers today either worked for him or were trained by people who did work for him," Mr. Inn's daughter said.
- Born in Camby, Ind., the son of a Quaker preacher was in California in the 1930s when he was hit by a car. Pronounced dead, he was taken to a morgue, where a student learning embalming detected a heartbeat. He trained his first puppy while healing.
- He kept the cremated remains of Benji, Arnold, the dog Tramp from My Three Sons and other animals in urns at his home and had requested that the remains be placed in his casket when he died, his daughter Kathleen said.
- Mr. Inn helped launch the careers of many other trainers, including Karl Lewis Miller, who handled the pig and other animals in the hit movie Babe.
- Two daughters: Kathleen Hees and Lori Grajeda, one son: Ernest Freeman (deceased)
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