1939
The Boxer had first been introduced to the United States in 1904. There were eighteen registered in the next twenty-two years. By 1934, seventy-one had been registered. But by 1938 this figure had jumped to 724. The Boxer was becoming better known.
In 1939, the ABC filed incorporation papers in New York as a nonprofit organization. There were nine directors required. Richard C. Kettles became the new AKC Delegate, a post which he held for the next sixteen years. Mid-West Boxer Club and Eastern Boxer Club were accepted as the first two member clubs. New Committees included Librarian, filled by Charles O. Spannaus and Obedience, headed by Katherine Lippert, who had organized the first Training Committee the year before.
The AKC Gazette column was turned over to the new Publicity and Promotions Committee, headed up by Mrs. George Ross Hall and staff members Mrs. J.P. Wagner, Mrs. H. Palmedo, Fred Hamm and Alfred Cousins. An additional duty of the Librarian was historian, and members were encouraged to send in their Boxer clippings and pictures for his files. [Unfortunately we have no record of anything being sent - Ed.]
The Annual Specialty, held June 10, with North Westchester in Katonah, NY on the Estate of Mrs. T. Whitney Blake, became a memorial to Mr. William Z. Breed, one of the pioneer Boxer breeders of the U.S. From the records, it would appear that Mrs. Breed was to have judged, but Mr. Frank Simms stood in for her after the death of her husband. Judge Simms had an entry of seventy-four.
Best of Breed was Ch. Biene v. Elbe-Bogen se Sumbula, owned by the Palmedos. Biene became the first bitch to make a record in our breed. She had been campaigned extensively by Harry Harnett and became the first bitch to win a BIS. She finished her career with four BIS and was still winning Best of Breed from the Veterans Class in 1941, also a first.
The Boxer, by John P. Wagner, appeared in time for the Annual Specialty. This book became, and remains today, the Bible for Boxer breeders. It went through several printings between 1939 and 1952, with Utz and Brandy on the dust covers. It can still be found today with some persistent searching.
Mr. Wagner had a tremendous wealth of knowledge derived from his contacts with the German breeders, particularly the Stockmanns, and from ten years of his own breeding on a very large scale. Mazelaine undoubtedly had the largest Boxer kennel in the United States, often having 80 to 100 Boxers in the breeding program. Mazelaine still holds the record today for most champions bred, owned or finished, with well over 130.
The fourth ABC Fun Match took place July 8, at Miss Francis Crawford's, Ridge Street, Port Chester, NY. BIM was Mr and Mrs Wager's Serenade of Mazelaine, later to become a top winning Boxer. Best Puppy Dog was Ludwig's Alex, owned by C.O. Spannaus. The entry was a hefty fifty puppies.
A minor discussion occurred that fall over whether to divide the Open class by color at the ABC shows. Mid-West and Morris and Essex were both doing so, and it was very well received. Thus, the ABC adopted the practice the next year.
In September, 1939, war was declared in Europe, effectively cutting the U.S. off from importations and advice for the duration of the conflict. But Boxer clubs continued to form during this time.
Southern Boxer Club formally organized Nov. 4, in Birmingham with twelve members. This was a regional club with members from all over the South. The President was Douglas 1. Hunt (Birbama of Birmingham). Among the other members were Mr. and Mrs. Adams (Bellum -Atlanta). Also involved were Mr. Booth (Dunroaming-Tenn), Mr. Craig (Nashville), Anthony Constans (Birmingham) and Mr. Osborn and Mr. Milner (Atlanta). Southern's first supported entry was at the Atlanta KC. The club became inactive during the war.
The same month saw the formation of the Michigan Boxer Club. There were many well-known Boxer people in the Detroit area, and among the first members were President - Dr. Douglas Schellig, VP Dr. Gerald Fitzgerald, Sec./Treas. Earl Davidson and Board Members Dr. L.E. Daniels (owner of Kapellmeister), John Beale and Dr. Dan Gordon (Bladan).
Pacific Coast BC (Long Beach) also got started in November of 1939, joining the ABC in 1940. Their first specialty was held June 22-23, 1940, with Long Beach KC. Officers were President Dr. R.C Harris, VPs - Paul Ladin and Edward Prinz, Secretary Dr.Blake H. Watson, Treasurer George Zimmerman, and Board members Mrs. Gross and Mr. Sullivan. All of these were very active Boxer breeders in California.
1940
The years 1940/41 saw little change in the makeup of the ABC board. Mr. Wagner became the first Honorary Vice President at the December, 1940, meeting. The spring ABC match was held Feb. 11, the day before Westminster. John Wagner judged an entry of 50.
The Potomac BC of Washington, D.C. was started by Keith Merrill, also the new ABC Columnist, and Mrs. Jouett Shouse, who served as President.
John Wagner judged the ABC Specialty on June 8, with an entry over seventy. BOB went to the Kettles' Ch. Kurass vd Blutenau of Dorick. Kurass had gone Group Second at Morris and Essex the week before. He was also the first Boxer to go BIS in Canada (1939).
When the ABC fall specialty took place on September 22, judge Dr. S. Potter Bartley picked the elderly Sigurd as winner of the Progeny Dog class and Ch. Kitty vd Uhlandshohe for Progeny Bitch. A Parade of Champions thrilled all, and later counting revealed that Dorick had sired the most entries in the parade - five.
Fall 1940, saw several firsts in the Boxer world. Ch. Brace of Briarnole, owned by Dr. W.D. Schellig of New Baltimore and handled by Marvin Young, became the first American Bred Boxer to go BIS. He was by Lustig out of Frey of Mazelaine. This was followed shortly by Ch. Serenade of Mazelaine going BIS to capture first American Bred Bitch BIS honors. Biene, an import, had already gone BIS to capture the first BIS bitch honors.
Potomac Boxer Club held their first puppy match Nov. 2, with entries. Here there was an obedience demonstration by Coquette v. d. Stuttgarter, CDX, owned by Glenn W. Studebaker, and, if the records are correct, a good time was had by all.
The Mid-West BC specialty on Nov. 30 and Dec.1., achieved distinction by offering another innovation in the classes, a Best American-Bred Champion's class. Winner of this class went on to compete for BOB. This had been introduced earlier that year at Morris and Essex and was adopted enthusiastically by Mazie Wagner at MWBC. Entry that year was fifty-nine. Winners Dog was Pancho von Dom, from 9-12 Puppy class. This puppy had not been bred by the Stockmanns and the use of their kennel name on him, even though he was a good specimen, resulted in the von Dom kennel name being registered in the United States to protect it from such use. MWBC also introduced another innovation that proved very popular: the pre-show dinner. During the early 1940s at least, their independent specialty - and the good times had by all - made Mid-West the show to attend for everyone.
1941
By early 1941, Dog Fanciers in the United States began to take notice of the war in Europe. All proceeds from the Westminster KC show went to the American Red Cross. It was a foreshadow of more serious things to come.
ABC elected its Board and Officers at their February meeting. Among others on the Board were Lt. Com. Keith Merrill (USNR and General Patton's brother-in-law), Mrs. Palmedo, Dr. Bartley, and Al Cousins.
Potomac Boxer Club and Pacific Coast BC both joined the ABC in 1940, bringing the total member-clubs to 4, with the Mid-West and Eastern Boxer Clubs. Other clubs now formed and preparing for membership were New England BC, Boxer Club of Pennsylvania, and Southern Boxer Club, which had supported the entry at the Nashville KC show in April. New England Boxer Club numbered Miss Marcia Fennessy, Mrs. Harold Palmedo, and columnist John J. Baird among its members.
Potomac held their first specialty with Old Dominion KC, April 26. Judge for this event was the very popular Fred Hams. The new American Bred Champions class was offered at this show also.
Summer brought several important Boxer events, including the ABC summer puppy match, and the Annual Specialty with North Westchester. The June 8, ABC match was judged by Mrs. A.M. Lewis at St Albans Golf Club on Long Island, with Serenade taking BOB. A forty-six-dog entry was topped by Kalmar of Billysee from the 9-12 class. A Parade of Champions again included 5 Dorick champions ---Serenade, Rido, Dorn, Heidi and Kurass. A week after that match, the ABC Specialty had an entry of fifty for judge Engle. Mid-West BC held their 5th Annual Specialty and Dinner Nov. 29 & 30, with an entry for Alva Rosenberg of fifty-nine.
The euphoric feeling of a growing, successful American boxer Club was part of the country's calm before the storm, but a nation's hopes to avoid the "European conflict" came to an abrupt end on Dec. 7, at Pearl Harbor. We were suddenly at war in both the Pacific and Europe.
