|
The City of San Angelo and surrounding area seems to have a long
history of kennel club activity and relations with the American
Kennel Club (AKC), (est. 1884).
In
the next few months, our Historian, Mrs. Johnnie Lea Tate, will
share her treasures and finds of the kennel club's history. As she
explores the depths of cyber space, archives, microfiche files and
musty basements, she will give us a much better understanding.
Some kennel clubs claim fame for being established very early on and
almost sitting in on Mr. James M. Taylor's first meeting as he
became AKC's first President in 1884. (pun) Well, we
can almost do that!
The Concho Kennel Club was established in 1964 and incorporated June
6, 1974. Yet, a whole other world of club meetings, dog shows and
events took place before 1964. However, there is a gap of time!
Yet, there is also a bridge of time! From this association,
history tells us that the Concho Kennel Club was pulled from the
ashes of the San Angelo Kennel Club of 1911.
As
more revelations and surprises about the past come forward, enjoy
this beautiful Prize List from the 'digital world'.
.......Concho Kennel Club was pulled from the ashes of The San
Angelo Kennel Club of 1911
ref:
American Kennel Club Archives
AKC HISTORY
The Beginning
Lorenso D. Heyser, a San Angelo taxidermist and furrier, is the
first documented Director in charge of the Kennel Department, of a
San Angelo, Texas dog show; according to information found in the
“San Angelo Standard” the local newspaper of 1911. Beginning in 1911
he was Director and Superintendent of the Kennel Department of the
San Angelo Fair.
L. D. Heyser expressed his enthusiasm for dogs and a dog show in,
“The San Angelo Standard” interview dated August 8, 1911. L. D.
Heyser said in part “I can safely promise that the kennel show will
be the best feature of the whole fair. Already enough inquiries and
promises of cooperation that have been passed to me to insure a full
measure of success,” he continued.
“The San Angelo Standard” of Friday noon, November 24, 1911 ran the
following headline: “DISPLAY DOGS BEFORE GRAND STAND TODAY”. The
story read, “L. D. Heyser, Director in charge of the Kennel
Department of the Fall Fair, will display before the grand stand,
this afternoon 35 prize winning dogs. The exhibition will be
something out of the ordinary and will doubtless prove popular with
the hundreds of dog fanciers at the Fair. The parade of the dogs
will be between 3 and 4 0’clock.”
The Fall Fair held November 20 thru 24, 1911 was the third San
Angelo Fall Fair; it was supported by the San Angelo Chamber of
Commerce. Fair officials and supporters included President of the
Chamber of Commerce W. A. Guthrie, and Phil Lee, Fair Chairman, C.
H. Powell, J. C. Landon, Mark L. Wyatt, E. Blanchard, B. C.
Alexander, Herbert O’Bannon. Also involved with the San Angelo Fall
Fair were B. L Thorne, C. W. Heckert or Eckert, Walter S. Robertson,
and many others.
Three new exhibit departments were created for the Fair of 1911,
there were the Educational –W. L. Hoghes; Gymkhana (novelty) racing
- Wm Anson; and the fore mention Kennel show with L. D. Heyser in
charge.
Heads of other exhibits were also named. Among these were Auto
exhibits and racing - Lester E. Ogg and J. M. Coleman; Merchants
exhibit - William Hemphill; Pecan Industry - J. W. Caldwell;
Matrimonial - B. C. Alexander; Baby show –W. D. Holcomb; Horses,
mules and jacks – W. Blanchard; Poultry – W. B. Hunter; Agricultural
– J. M. Cox; Aptarian – W. B. Turner; Sheep and goats – Geo.
Richardson; Swine – John P. Lee; Electrical – John A. Walker.
|
Concho Kennel Club 
History
