Quarter Century Collie Group President Tom Coen welcomed fanciers gathered in the grand ballroom of Syracuse, New York’s Downtown Marriott Hotel, to induct George Horn and Leslie Canavan into the Quarter Century Collie Group’s Hall of Fame. The tradition began in 1984, under the leadership of Dr. William “Bill” Broken. Nancy McDonald, one the today’s most prolific contributors to our sport, was brought to tears as she received the annual surprise Right Stuff Award!
Placards picturing the Hall of Fame recipients, along with their accomplishments, were displayed for all to enjoy. The large audience enjoyed historical photographs on giant screens as Tom Coen, Larry Williford, and Carrie Lenhart took over the podium to praise the 2025 honorees.
George’s love for Collies was inspired by the Terhune books. He and his future wife, Ginger, met while horseback riding. Luckily, they lived near W. R. Van Dyke of Honeybrook and credit him with much of their learning in those early years.
Their first acquisition came before they were married with the purchase of a blue male puppy who would become their first champion. CH Windsong Dealer’s Choice finished easily with a Working Group 1 from the classes. The next purchase came about while visiting with John and Ada Guiliano of Bellbrooke Kennels. In their basement, they found a beautiful nine-month-old puppy. He was big-boned, loaded with coat, and had expression that would melt hearts. “Patrick,” CH GinGeor Bellbrooke’s Choice, sired thirty champions and would later be called “The Daddy of Them All!
CH Jadene’s Breeze Along, “Breezy,” came from Patrick’s first litter. George later bought and campaigned Breezy. He was the consummate show dog, winning an all-breed Best in Show, nine Working Groups, and every major specialty on the East Coast. He topped it off with Best of Breed at the 1967 National Specialty!
Before long, the GinGeor dogs were winning across the country. They were known for style, outline, classic heads, and a beautiful eye and expression. Following years of successful breeding, GinGeor’s breeding and showing career climaxed and ended when the blue dog, CH GinGeor’s Indelibly Blue, won Best of Breed at the 1976 National Specialty.
Aside from extremely good fortune and being in the right place at the right time, GinGeor’s success involved knowledge, dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It didn’t hurt that GinGeor dogs were always well-trained and groomed to perfection.
George understood that without good health and temperament, a breeder had nothing. He believed those were the foundations of a successful breeding program. George was a big proponent of doing everything in a natural manner, whether it was breeding bitches, stud dog management, or puppy raising and training.
In 1970, George became an American Kennel Club (AKC) licensed judge for Collies. Later, he added Shetland Sheepdogs, Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Great Danes, German Shepherd Dogs, and Junior Showmanship. He was one of the most popular judges during this time and was given the honor of judging bitches at our National Specialty on three separate occasions: 1971 Oklahoma City, 1979 San Diego, and 1988 Springfield.
After his breeding and showing days were over, George continued to be in demand as a speaker. No one was more articulate, knowledgeable, or entertaining. His articles were in high demand, and he frequently wrote for Collie magazines. In the 1990s, he decided to record his conversations with Steve Field. Thus, the popular “Steve Sez” articles appeared. George felt he still had much to teach, so he started a blog: “From the Desk of a Dinosaur.” Topics were timely and loaded with tips and information. He wrote about the old days, and he always told it exactly as he saw it!
– Gayle Kaye and Larry Willeford
Les’s start in Collies came as a result of reading Albert Payson Terhune’s books and growing up with a childhood Collie. It was always her goal to raise and breed Collies, and as a young girl, Les made a bet that by the time she was twenty she would have twenty Collies!
Wanting a show bitch, Les ended up at Mrs. Browning’s Tokalon Collies and purchased a daughter of CH Tokalon Harvest Weather. In 1953, she went to Edith Levine looking for a stud for her bitch. Edith didn’t have what Les was looking for, but suggested she contact Verna Allen who was also located on Long Island. Thus began one of the most successful unions in Collie lore.
Les began her Collie career as “Canway” while living in Virginia, and Verna Allen started as Royal Rock on Long Island. Their combined breeding program began in 1957 when Les leased one of Verna’s bitches, Royal Rock Showboat. Les’s first big specialty win came with this bitch. “Showboat” was bred to the Carabine’s CH Erin’s Own Professor’s Touch, and from that litter came their most well-known Collie, CH Royal Rock Gamblin’ Man, “Timmy.” His show career included numerous specialty wins as well as Best of Breed and third in the Working Group at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Timmy was a pivotal sire and is in the pedigrees of many of today’s winners. Always striving for an elegant and sound Collie, Royal Rock bred 29 champions.
For many years, Les was a professional handler and had many notable wins. She showed the Gamblin’ Man son, CH Noranda Daily Double, to Best of Breed at the 1968 CCA (Collie Club of America) as well as to multiple all-breed Bests in Show. He was twice Best of Breed at Westminster. One of Les’s greatest thrills came in 1970 when she handled CH Black Hawk Of Kasan to Best of Breed at CCA. It was the first time a Smooth Collie had won the Breed at the National. Les discovered “Hawk” on a trip West and convinced owner Sandy Tuttle that the dog needed to go East to be shown and stand at stud. Les also handled Hawk to an all-breed Best in Show, another first for the Smooth Collie.
Les was a popular judge and judged the CCA National Specialty three times! She was dedicated to the CCA, having served as an officer on several occasions and numerous club committees, including Judges Education, Ethics, and others. Les was a charter member of the Collie Club of Long Island and devoted time to the Collie Health Foundation and the Quarter Century Collie Group.
As a person, Les was the epitome of honesty, integrity and grace. She generously shared her knowledge and experience with all… quietly and with dignity. If ever there is a list of Collie icons, most assuredly, Les’s name will be close to the top.
–Gayle Kaye and Tom & Nioma Coen
In an emotional moment, Carrie Lenhart spoke and presented a plaque to Right Stuff Award recipient Nancy McDonald of Barksdale Collies.
Let us always remember to learn from those who have left a legacy and have blazed a trail for us to preserve for the future of American Kennel Club (AKC) sports. We owe a great deal of debt to their hard work and good deeds, as they have paved the way for us today.
