The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the nominees for the annual Lifetime Achievement Awards.  Finalists are based on nominations by member clubs.  A winner from the three finalists in each category—Conformation, Companion Events, and Performance—will be voted on by member clubs, with voting ending on September 13, 2010.  There will be a special awards presentation held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California in December 2010.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were established by the American Kennel Club in 1998 to honor and celebrate those whose years of hard work and dedication have significantly impacted the world of purebred dog sports on a national level.

This year’s nominees are:

Conformation

• Jean Fournier of Calhoun, Georgia won the Siberian Husky Club of America’s coveted Working/Showing Trophy in 1973.  She has judged over 75 national and local specialty shows, and currently serves on the board of the American Dog Show Judges Association.

• Walter F. Goodman of Miami, Florida is a breeder-owner-handler of Skye Terriers.  He has finished 35 champions, acquiring 99 Best in Shows, among other achievements.  He has served on the AKC Board of Directors since 1988, and is a director of the AKC Museum of the Dog.

• Keke Kahn of Sarasota, Florida is a breeder-owner-handler of Lhasa Apsos.  She has bred 58 AKC champions, including six all-breed Best in Show dogs and many group winners.  She achieved her goal of becoming an all-breed judge in 1997.

Companion Events

• James Ham of Harrison Township, Michigan has trained and exhibited Dalmatians, Smooth Fox Terriers, and now has Border Terriers.  His very first Dalmatian became the first Am/Can CH, Am/Can UDT.  In addition to Obedience and Tracking, he also exhibits in breed, agility, and rally.  He began judging 26 years ago, and has judged in 49 out of the 50 states.

• Shirley Indelicato of Acton, California is a breeder, conformation and obedience exhibitor, and AKC-approved judge for all Obedience and Rally classes.  She has shown dogs in obedience to the highest degree, as well as championships in the breed ring.  In addition, she has conducted training classes and has taught more than 12,000 owners to train their dogs in obedience.

• Jill K. Jones of Brownsville, Oregon has been involved in obedience and tracking since the early 1970s.  Her first dog, a Norwegian Elkhound, became the first of the breed to achieve a UDT in 1975.  She has judged obedience and tracking for years, and is currently competing with a Labrador Retriever and Pembroke Welsh Corgi in agility and obedience.

Performance

• Jo Ann Frier-Murza of Crosswicks, New Jersey has been a major part of den trials and earthdog for years.  She worked with the AKC advisory panel on developing the earthdog program in 1993.  She has earned multiple Master Earthdog titles with her own dogs, as well as field championships on four Dachshunds.

• Leida Jones of Lady Lake, Florida is passionate about animals and has been involved in herding since the program was developed by the AKC.  She has served on two Herding Advisory Committees and gives herding lessons to others.

• Linda Stilwell of Duncan, Oklahoma is a fancier and breeder of Basenjis.  Ever since Basenjis have been accepted into lure coursing, she has participated with her dogs in both the AKC and American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA).  She has produced multiple Field Champions and Top Ten dogs in lure coursing.