(Pictured above – The honorees, Mr. Culver, Mrs. Washburn and Mr. Bradley receiving engraved silver bowls from Doug Ljungren, AKC VP of Sports and Events and Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. A sterling silver Tiffany and Co. bowl engraved with the names of all recipients past and present is on permanent display at AKC headquarters in New York City.)
Since 1999 The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards have honored those individuals whose outstanding accomplishments have left a lasting mark on the Sport of Purebred Dogs. The nominees and recipients of this award have fully demonstrated their passion and commitment to our Sport.
They have earned our deepest respect as well as our heartfelt gratitude.
The names of this year’s recipients will be added to the Lifetime Achievement Award perpetual trophy, a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver bowl, which is on permanent display in the AKC Headquarters in New York City.
(below – Doug Ljungren AKC Executive Vice President of Sports and Events)
Doug Ljungren: “In the category of Conformation our recipient is Thomas H. Bradley, III
Tom began in dogs in 1954 with German Shorthaired Pointers, exhibiting at his first point shows in 1955 at Adirondack Kennel Club in Lake Placid, New York. Under his Luftnase prefix, Tom bred a number of sporting breeds, including Pointers, German Shorthairs, English Cocker Spaniels, and Labrador Retrievers. His last breeding produced a litter of four Border Terriers, all AKC champions. Breeding highlights include Finishing five champions in our second litter of Labradors in the mid 1980s and being co-breeder of Pointer Ch. Luftnase Albelarm Bee’s Knees, the top dog, all breeds, 1981. Tom was approved to judge German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, and Weimaraners in 1965. He now judges all sporting breeds and Best in Show. Among his most memorable judging assignments are judging the Irish Setter Club of America National Specialty four times. One of Tom’s greatest pleasures is mentoring aspiring Sporting Dog judges and admiring their successes. His article,—How I Judge Pointers—written years ago, is still used in the APC Judges Education Program. Tom has been show chairman for the Westminster Kennel Club show since 2002, retiring from that position in May of 2016. In 2017, he was invited to judge BIS at Westminster which is the highlight of his judging career. He feels that being a co-founder of Take the Lead, plus twenty-five years as volunteer executive director, represents his most saisfying contribution to our sport.”
(Below – Conformation Event winner Thomas H. Bradley, III)
Doug Ljungren: “In the category of Companion Events our recipient is the late Frank Washabaugh.
Frank was a graduate of Cornell University with a master’s degree in chemical engineering, last employed by Englehard Chemical. During the 1960s he served in the Army Chemical Corps at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland, then continued in the reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. Frank, along with his wife Nancy of 45 years, bred and exhibited German Shorthaired Pointers for over 30 years, which led Frank to a 20-year career as a highly respected AKC licensed judge for obedience and three conformation groups. Frank passed away on June 11, 2018.”
In Frank’s own words:
“My original breed was the German Shorthaired Pointer. My wife and I have owned them for over 40 years. We acquired the Wire Fox Terrier from my wife’s cousin’s breeding from an extensive line of Champions. I have shown Shorthairs in breed, obedience, and field events. We’ve owned, co-owned or produced over 30 GSP CHs and (at least) 4 Wire CHs. We are lifetime members of the Eastern German Shorthaired Pointer Club and the Princeton Dog Training Club. I served as President for both Clubs. I started to judge breed and obedience 20 years ago. In obedience, I’ve judged the AKC invitational, the Gaines Classic, the World Series of Obedience, and at many National Specialties. In conformation, I judged all Sporting, all Terriers, all Toys, and Poodles.”
“Accepting the award is Frank’s wife Nancy. Congratulations.”
(below – Nancy Washbaugh accepting the Companion Events Award on behalf of her late husband Frank Washbaugh.)
Doug Ljungren: “In the category of Performance Events our recipient is Kevin Culver
Kevin has been involved in the development of the Irish Setter, predominantly in the field, for the past 45 years. Kevin is proud to be a part of the Irish Setter re-emergence in AKC field events, both at trials and hunting tests and feels that the increase in dual champions is absolute proof that today’s breeders are working together to protect the purpose of the breed. Kevin has owned and trained many field champions to both their AFC and FC titles and has had several breed champions as well. Kevin sat on the Board of the Irish Setter Club of America and serves on the ISCA Walking Field Trial advisory committee. He has chaired this event on three occasions, including the 2018 event in Delaware. Kevin was the 2016 recipient of the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award from ISCA. There is nothing more important to Kevin than engaging newcomers to the sport. Since retirement, Kevin has had more time to interact with people and will even host bird dog seminars on his grounds in VA. Making it a family affair, Kevin and his wife Jean have two sons Keith and Judd that have both enjoyed success with their dogs in field competition. Keith is also an AKC field trial judge. Congratulations Kevin.”
Below – Performance Event Winner Kevin Culver
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