AKC GR Mourns Loss of Former Director

On Friday, September 11, the purebred dog community lost a great man with the untimely passing of Walter Bebout.

A dog person since his youth, Walt gained extensive experience in the sport of dogs as a breeder, exhibitor, AKC-approved judge, member club president, show chairman, and AKC delegate. Walt joined AKC’s staff in 1996 as a Conformation Field Representative, covering dog shows throughout the South and Midwest. In April 2006, he was named Director of Canine Legislation, and was responsible for all AKC legislative initiatives on the local and state level, and worked closely with AKC’s federal government relations consultants on all federal issues. Walt’s leadership brought about several major achievements for AKC, including the defeat of New York’s 2006 crop/dock bill and California’s 2007 mandatory spay/neuter bill, and shepherding the staff’s development of the AKC Political Action Committee.

Upon his retirement in November 2008, Walt returned to his family and his beloved Kansas City home, where he enjoyed showing and judging dogs, writing, teaching, and working toward his Ph.D. in political science.

Walt was killed in a traffic accident en route to judging Best in Show at the Hutchinson Kennel Club dog show. A respected dog man and a beloved colleague, Walt will be greatly missed.