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In Memoriam: John Roy Saner, Rigger, 72

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John “Two Dogs” Saner has finally gone to that big, long rigging call in the sky after a long battle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (a severe form of arthritis in the spine and joints) followed by a stroke suffered in 2014 plus complications from pneumonia, and numerous other health issues including a recent broken leg. He died on January 19, 2025.

Born on February 15, 1952, Saner was adopted at birth by John and Kathryn (Kitty) Saner of Oklahoma City.

Saner’s first job in the entertainment business was as a truck loader on one of the ice shows at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Sept of 1975 with IATSE Local 112 and from that humble beginning worked himself up to one of the top road riggers in the 80’s and 90’s touring with a who’s who of the entertainment business. The list is literally too long to include here but some of the bigger ones include tours with John Denver, Kenny Rogers, KISS, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, CSN, Jimmy Buffett, and probably his proudest moments were two tours with Michael Jackson (Victory and Bad Tours).

He also established Two Dogs Rigging as a commercial entity and helped develop and install the Bulldog Grid concept, the first of which was installed in the Tacoma Dome.

If his pictures tell the story, Saner was his happiest when he was in Maui. Diving and taking out boats, catching a fresh seafood dinner while wearing a seashell necklace and donning flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt was heaven. That picture is a great way to remember Saner.

Saner leaves behind friends from locations around the globe including goddaughters, high school mates, bosses, and employees, union brothers and sisters and friends who helped him along the way.