LINES FROM LINDA: REMEMBERING AKC FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM HAROLD HOLBROOK
With my insisting that she do so, Janine Walker-Keith shared a fare- well salute that she’d penned with the history of Bill’s involvement in the world of dogs. The Sport of Dogs celebrates the life of a very dedicated AKC Field Representative of twenty-nine years, Bill Holbrook of Buffington Col- lies. The kennel name was established in 1939 in Lincoln, Nebraska, by his future bride, Janet (known as Jidge). Jidge used the prefix in her first Collie’s name, Count of Buffington (Buff), the dog that sired Steve Field’s first litter of Collies in 1940. Mr. Field later developed the great and well-known Parader Collies located in Omaha, Nebraska. Teen-age Bill Holbrook met Jidge in a high school play in his home- town of Lincoln when he played a handsome young male star. Accord- ing to Bill, he knew he had made the conquest when he finally suc- ceeded in kissing Jidge goodnight without Buff trying to stand guard between them. Bill courted Jidge for seven years before marrying her in 1947 after becoming a member of The Greatest Generation by serving his country with honor, bravery, and valor from 1942 to 1946 during World War ll. In 1951, Bill entered the “World of AKC” by volunteer- ing to be the show chairman for Cornhusker Kennel Club. In 1954, the Holbrooks moved from Nebraska to sunny Long Beach, California, but soon settled in Granada Hills, just east of Los Angeles where dog shows were very competitive and Collie specialty shows drew entries of over 100 dogs with 40–50 puppies entered in futurity stakes. Bill and Judge sincerely enjoyed, and never forgot, the longtime friendships they made with many California Collie fanciers. Bill soon became a Collie Club of America District Director, CCA First Vice President, and a successful, well-known professional handler. Twenty years later, the Holbrooks moved north to the beautiful state of Washington, mainly to the town of Sequim. Without a doubt, Bill Holbrook wore many hats as he spent his entire adult life as a guardian of the Sport of Dogs, and along the way was a Collie breeder, exhibi- tor, professional handler, AKC approved judge in 1969, mentor, true friend who always did so much for others, devoted husband, loving father of Nancy and Mike, and Jenny’s adoring grandfather. In 1980, Bill became an AKC Field Representative who always worked with a fair and level playing field for the good of all. He was known for his soft-spoken guidance and opinion, patience and generosity, honesty and fairness, along with being a good listener who was filled with common sense and had a wonderful sense of humor. Gentlemen respected Bill and ladies adored him. Bill retired from being an AKC Rep in 2007 at the age of 82 and started judging once again. In 2013, he was nominated an AKC Life- time Achievement Award Finalist. While living in Southern California from 1954 to the mid-1970s, Bill and Jidge made Collies and the Sport of Dogs a true family affair by including their pretty young daughter, Nancy Jan Holbrook. With guidance from both parents, eight-year-old Nancy began obedience training her own beautiful winning Collie of that era, Ch. Blazer of Buffington CDX, bred by Bill and Jidge in 1957 and still remembered by many. To quote Jidge, “Perhaps the greatest Collie we will ever house here, both in conformation and character, is Blazer. Nancy picked Blazer from a litter of seven puppies when she was six years old and the litter was two hours old. It was a simple selection based on the white blaze on his face, like Lassie. Blazer had a bout with distemper follow- ing a live virus vaccine that prevented him from gaining enough weight until 1960 when he was finally shown in conformation, winning Best of Breed over five specials at the San Fernando KC. He finished his cham- pionship eight months later and went on to win the 1963 Southern California Collie Tournament with eleven-year old Nancy handling him, resulting in a trip to Chicago for the Holbrook family to attend the CCA National show. Nancy was the only child handler in a ring of 35
(left to right) Bill Holbrook, Glen Twiford, and Dr. William Brokken. 2001 – This historic photo was taken at the San Diego Collie Club of longtime AKC Field Representative, Bill Holbrook, acknowledging and awarding icon Glen Twiford of Wind-Call Collies for 50 years of AKC judging, with a speech from his heart, and an AKC plaque. Collie Club of America past president, Dr. William Brokken, also honored Mr. Twiford on behalf of CCA.
1965 – Koani’s Little Bo Peep. Santa Ana Valley KC, Judge Ed Myers. Handler: Bill Holbrook. Owner: Doris Koani.
1966 - Ch. Long Ridge Dark Moment. Bill piloted the tri dog under Walter Lee at Orange. Empire KC and soon finished him under Steve Field at Arz. Collie Clan show. Owner: Henry Oyama.
64 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2021
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