Lifetime Achievement Awards 2006

In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were established in 1998 to honor our Fancy's best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our sport on a national level.

As in the past, this year's nominees were selected by AKC member clubs that cast their votes for one nominee in each of three categories: Conformation, Companion Events, and Performance. The three nominees receiving the most votes in each category were selected as the finalists. Member clubs have now been asked to cast their vote for one nominee in each of the three categories. This final round of balloting will close on October 14, 2005. A special presentation will be held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Tampa, Florida in January 2006.

The AKC is honored to present photos and bios of the nine finalists who were selected by their constituents in recognition of their exemplary participation in the fancy.

Nominees in Conformation:


Marian Mason Hodesson, of Tucson, Arizona, was born in the north of England and emigrated with her family to the United States in 1928, along with the family Collie. They settled in Monrovia, California, establishing the Wilpshire Kennel in the early thirties. First drawn to Obedience, Marian trained and showed Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Miniature Poodles, finishing several dogs in those early years in both Conformation and Obedience.

She became an Obedience judge in the 1940s and applied for her first breed in 1963. She is presently licensed to judge the Sporting, Working, Non-Sporting, and Herding Groups. She has judged throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.

A charter member of the Canada del Oro Kennel Club, Marian has been a member of the Collie Club of America and Tucson Kennel Club for over 53 and 35 years respectively, serving as Chair in a variety of capacities.

Marian worked with her husband, a veterinarian, for 23 years. Longtime contributors to the Veterinary School Library at the Ohio State University, Marian and her late husband had been working towards an endowment. Marian experienced the thrill of a lifetime when she recently found out that their goal had been achieved.


Dr. Harry Smith, of Durham, North Carolina, began his involvement in dogs after his return from World War II. He joined his father in breeding Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, showing them exclusively in retriever trials. In the early 1950s, he acquired a Westminster Toy Group winning Pug from the Soderberg kennel that became the foundation for the small kennel that Harry established in Southern Ohio.

Initially, Harry's dog world activities centered around Southern Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He owned the first black Pug to win the Pug Dog Club of America Futurity, and was the co-founder of the Pug Club of Greater Cincinnati. His activity in the Pug Dog Club of America increased over the years, and he served as the club's AKC Delegate for 10 years.

Dr. Smith began judging Pugs in 1966. He steadily pursued his judging career, adding his final Group, the Hound Group, in 1999. This led to Harry's approval as an AKC all-breed judge in that same year. Dr. Smith has judged on five continents, with judging highlights that include the Toy Group at Westminster, the Non-Sporting Group at the 2001 AKC/Eukanuba American Dog Classic, Best Bred-By-Exhibitor Toy Group at the 2005 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, and all Groups and Best in Show at the Welsh Kennel Club Show.

Recipient: 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Harry Smith


Dorothy Welsh, of Neillsville, Wisconsin, has been involved with the sport of dogs since childhood. Her mother raised Pomeranians, which Dorothy exhibited until college. By the time she graduated from Northwestern University, she was interested in larger dogs and purchased her first Collie. She actively bred and showed Collies from 1944 through 1969.

Dorothy married AKC judge, J. Lynn Welsh in 1969 and that same year she began her own judging career. She currently judges all Hounds, Working, Toys, Non-Sporting and Herding breeds, and has judged in North and South America, the British Isles, Scandanavia, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Asia, and Africa.

Dorothy has been active in Collie clubs on all levels and is currently the AKC Delegate for the Chicago Collie Club. She served on the AKC Board of Directors for four years and has actively been involved with The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog since its inception and serves on its Board. Dorothy has the distinction of being awarded a Gaines Fido for "Woman of the Year," as well as the honor of being inducted into the Ken L Ration Hall of Fame. "Dogs have been a very important part of my life," explains Dorothy, "and I thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie of all the people around the world who are also passionate about dogs."

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Nominees in Companion Events:


Rosalie Alvarez, of Los Altos Hills, California, became involved with Obedience in 1957 when she started training Dobermans. She has taken ten of her Dobermans to Utility and Tracking degrees and competed the first Doberman in the United States to obtain the UDT Sch 111 degree. Rosalie has numerous Highs in Trial to her credit, including two at the Doberman National.

In addition to Obedience, she has trained for tracking, flyball, agility, protection, and scent work for bomb and narcotics detection. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department recognized her with a citation for developing and training their canine unit.

To dispel the myth of the vicious Doberman, Rosalie founded the Doberman Drill Team, which toured the United States and Canada for almost 30 years. With astounding demonstrations of Obedience and Agility, they visited hospitals and gave public performances including two half-time shows for the San Francisco 49ers.

Rosalie is an AKC judge of all Obedience classes and holds active membership in Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club and the Northern California AKC Obedience Association. In addition, she is the training director of Town and Country and Deep Peninsula Dog Training Clubs. Rosalie has helped to organize and present four AKC Obedience seminars and judged the AKC Obedience Invitational in 2001.

Recipient: 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, Rosalie Alvarez


Bonnie J. Baker, of Tomball, Texas, started her lifelong involvement with Obedience in 1968, training a Cocker Spaniel with Red River Obedience Training Club (RROTC) in Shreveport, Louisiana. During her RROTC membership Bonnie served as instructor, newsletter editor and trial secretary. After moving to Houston in 1974, she served as instructor, secretary, training director and president for the Breed Competition Dog Training Club (ABC) and founded the Dogwood Obedience School.

In 1981, Bonnie joined the Greater Houston Golden Retriever Club and worked as a match chair, Obedience and show chair as well as serving on their board. She also joined the Houston Kennel Club where she worked as their Obedience chair.

Bonnie was approved to judge Obedience in May of 1979 and in 2004 was approved as provisional judge for Rally. She has also been honored to judge several of the Gaines/Heinz events. A major highlight of her participation in Obedience has been judging the AKC Obedience Invitational in 1998 and again in 2003.

During her 37 years in the sport, Bonnie has completed multiple CD's, CDX's, and UD titles, as well as finishing two champion Cocker Spaniels. Two of her dogs hold UDX titles. One of Bonnie's Cocker Spaniels and five of her Golden Retrievers went on to become OTCH's.


William R. (Sil) Sanders, of Stanwood, Washington has been active in Companion dog events for 29 years. Introduced to Obedience at a local Westie club match, Sil was inspired by the dogs' enthusiasm and went on to train his Westie in Obedience. Through the years, he has earned titles on several dogs and competed at the UDX level. Sil has also trained several dogs to the Master Agility, TDX Tracking, and Master Earthdog levels. He and his wife, Anne, have bred and shown Westies since 1972, with many national winners and top-ten dogs to their credit.

As a West Highland White Terrier Club of America board member, Sil formed the club's first award honoring versatile Westies and has led the Club's Companion Dog and Performance Committee since 1979. He helped his parent club become licensed for Obedience, Tracking, Agility, and Earthdog. Due to Sil's involvement, Westie participation in Companion dog events is a common and expected part of a Westie's career. He helped form two regional Westie clubs, both which offer Obedience at all their specialties and helped to form the Palo Alto Foothills Tracking Association (a tracking-only club) and the Puget Sound Earthdog Club (the first Earthdog-only club.) Also a tracking judge, Sil served on the most recent AKC Tracking Advisory Committee.

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Nominees in Performance:


Harold Bruninga, of Springfield, Illinois began his involvement in Field Trials in 1970., As an amateur trainer-handler, Harold purchased his first puppy as a hunting companion and went on to win two puppy stakes in club trials in 1970. Since those trials he has been hooked on the sport.

This first puppy later became FC AFC Bonnie Brooks Red who was followed by Golden Retrievers: AFC Son of Red, FC AFC Topbrass Bandit, FC AFC Sangamo Red, AFC Little Fever and Labrador Retrievers: FC AFC Bingo By Bounce and FC Bounce by Bingo.

Harold's greatest highlight in the sport was winning a 46 dog Derby in Madison, Wisconsin in 1971, which also was his first Derby placement with Red. Other greatest thrills include; winning the Amateur stake at Manitowac, Wisconsin in 1973 with Red, winning open stake at Mid-Illinois in 1985 with Bandit, judging 1989 National Championship stake in Albany, Georgia. Over the years Harold also ran several Nationals with his Golden Retrievers which he has trained since puppyhood.

He has been a member of the Mid-Illinois Retriever Club since 1970 and has been deeply involved as a member and club officer. Harold has judged more than 40 all-age and numerous minor stakes.


Dr. Ray Calkins, of Sherwood, Oregon, received his degree in veterinary medicine in 1972 from Iowa State University. Then in 1975 with his wife, Lynn, established Cascade German Wirehaired Pointers and have been active in the Portland Kennel Club since 1981. Since inception, 8 Cascade GWPs, owner trained and handled, have earned field championships. 4 dogs hold nine National Field Championships and 2 are Dual Champions, while 7 hold Master Hunter titles and two hold NAVHDA Utility ratings.

As a member of the German Wirehaired Club of America (GWPCA) since 1974, he served on the board of directors for 6 years and was Field Futurity Chairman for twelve years. Ray was also a member of the GWP Field Trial Advisory Board from 1985-2000. He represented the GWPCA on the AKC Field Trial Advisory Board from 1986-1999. With the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Ray helped to form the Upland Bird Dog Association to promote habitat preservation and restoration.

He has judged the National Championships for 7 AKC pointing breeds and was honored twice to judge the AKC Gun Dog Championships. Ray serves as Show Veterinarian for local shows, and speaks at seminars sharing his field experiences. His expertise in reproduction and frozen semen is widely respected.


Marshall (Pete) Simonds, of Morrisville, Vermont began his life with Labradors in 1952. Working retrievers and competing in retriever field trials have always been of special interest. Pete is an active member for 5 retriever clubs including the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., for which he served as director and officer. He has judged retriever trials for over 40 years and has served as president and treasurer for the National Retriever Club. Pete also served more than 20 years as the chair of the subcommittee on Rules of the Retriever Advisory Council.

His immersion in Labradors led him to the larger world of purebred dogs. Pete served as a Delegate to the AKC for over a decade and chairman of the Delegates Committee on Field Trials and Hunting Tests from its inception. Pete has also served as a Director of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and had a major role in the planning and development of the Canine Health Information Center.

Pete has trained and handled Labradors across the country and has been fortunate to have owned more than a dozen Field Champions and Amateur Field Champions. He has owned and hunted Brittanys, Pointers and English Setters. He was the owner of the winning Brittany at the American Brittany Club National Gun Dog Championship in 2002.

Recipient: 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, Marshall (Pete) Simonds