Because a kennel club, like many organizations, is only as strong as its leadership, and because interviewing people is what I do, I have chosen to tell the story of the club through its presidents. I had the pleasure to interview Bee Schlesinger, widow of club founder and first president, Mel Schlesinger, Paul Kean, the second president, and his wife, Juanita and current president, Bob Goodin, who might be doing something entirely different this weekend if he weren't married to Judy.

I found that in addition to their love of dogs, all three presidents share an appreciation and enjoyment of the people they have met in the dog world. So, what better way to look back on the first 50 years than through the eyes of the people who brought us to this historic point?

My thanks to Bee Schlesinger, the Keans, and the Goodins for taking me on a wonderful trip back through their personal stories of the past 50 years of dog showing in Kansas City and to the Boutwells for doing the really hard part. Any errors are entirely mine. Enjoy!

The genesis of today's Heart of America Kennel Club began when the Schlesingers attended the International Kennel Club show in Chicago. "He was very civic minded, my husband," Bee recalls. "He decided that Kansas City should have a show like that where the public could go and really see the dogs."

It was at just such a benched show while living in Cleveland that the Schlesingers first encountered Kerry Blue Terriers. "As we came up to this bunch of dogs on the bench, all these Kerries stood up on their haunches and they all began to do this." Bee mimics dogs pawing the air. "So I said to him, if we can ever afford a Kerry, I would like to have one."

"Later on, we moved to Kansas City. On my birthday, Mel said, "If you can find a Kerry, I'll buy it for your birthday".

"I tore into the house and got the paper out, there was a litter advertised. So, we went and looked at it and bought a puppy."

"Our first show, we showed this puppy and got a blue ribbon. My husband ran into the judge in the men's room and he told him that the Kerry puppy was ours. Mel asked the judge 'What do you think of him?' The judge said, 'It's a likely puppy." Bee laughs. "I think that was a real clever answer."

While Mel Schlesinger was busy putting the Heart of America Kennel Club on the map, Bee was busy showing her Kerries. "I did all my dogs. Tom, the big winning one, I finished. I used to do all my own handling." A portrait of Tom, Ch Melbee's Chances Are, hangs at the staircase of the home Bee shared with her husband and where she still lives. In a place of honor, is a gold scroll presented to Mel by the organization he founded, the Heart of America Kennel Club.

Mel, however, concentrated his dog related activities to running the kennel club. "He showed once," Bee recalls. "His keys fell out of his pocket and hit the dog on the nose. That was the last time Mel went in the ring."

Bee remembers one memorable moment of her own showing career which came close to home. "I won Best in Show myself and that was quite a highlight. It was at Topeka. That was way up in my career."

Bee shares a January, 1962 article in Dog World Magazine titled "Dog World Salutes Mel Schlesinger," by Harvey Barcus. In that article, Barcus quotes Mel Schlesinger's rules on putting on successful dog shows. "Most important of his rules is: Keep politics out of shows. Another rule: A show is as good as its judges."

According to the article, bringing a quality dog show to Kansas City was not an easy proposition.

"No one encouraged Schlesinger in his efforts. The mayor was cool to the proposition; the local papers weren't willing to give the project space and officials of the municipal auditorium had never had a show. They let Mel know in unmistakable words that they weren't going to alter their stand. Schlesinger, however, liked a fight and took on this one. He organized a citizen's committee which brought pressure to bear in certain places and eventually the show was approved," the article states.

Later in the article Barcus describes the show Schlesinger fashioned. "Kansas City is a distinctive show to those who have seen it. 'Mel goes for the spectacular, particularly in the group judging,' (Show Superintendent) A. Wilson Bow, said. 'There's soft organ music and lighting effects and all is given red carpet treatment. The organist plays music of the dog's native land while a spotlight is thrown on the dog.' Sterling silver prizes and cash awards are given, while all officials and judges dress in evening clothes. Capt. Will Judy is the commentator, describing each dog as he parades before the judge."

Bee looks forward to the kennel club going back to this tradition for the Golden Anniversary show. Although she remembers that one feature which was not appreciated by some of the handlers. "Some of the handlers objected to the spotlight. Doug McClain was one. He thought it spooked the dogs. Although, it really was very nice, especially having the organist play music that suited each dog."

Bee has her own opinion about why the Heart of America Kennel Club has been successful for nearly 50 years. "I really think the club has been a success because it was run by businessmen - hard-headed businessmen. Always has been. Especially after he retired, Mel would work on a show. After the show was over, he'd start working on his puppy match. After the puppy match was over, he's start working on the next show. That was his life, to put on a good show. Past his business, of course."

The 1962 Dog World article gives us Mel's advice to show-giving clubs. "Encourage the beginners, they make your show."

Bee adds her own words of wisdom for those new to the sport of purebred dogs. "Just persevere. Be sure to get a good dog and show it. That's what we did. It's fun. If it's not fun, it's no use. That's what I think."

Bee is rightly proud of her husband's accomplishments and of the high regard with which he is still held by the dog fancy across the country.

True to her own advice, Bee is still having fun at the dog show and celebrating with her many friends the show her "hard-headed businessman" husband made possible 50 years ago.

"We bought a German Shepherd bitch, showed her and then we decided to breed her," Juanita recalls. "If we were going to breed her, she had to be bred to the best possible dog. So we used a freight train and shipped her down to Lang Skarda and bred her to the top-winning Shepherd at that time."

The Keans have been involved with dogs ever since, and their interest has always extended outside the show ring. Paul served for many years as president and on the board of the Greater Kansas City German Shepherd Dog Club. He was Show Chairman for specialties, including the 1966 nationals in Kansas City.

"So we bought the best black miniature Poodle that we could find. I learned how to groom him and it's just snowballed from there."

"Miniature Poodles, we finished five of them to their championships, but they were a lot of care," Juanita said. "I did all my own grooming and we had a kennel at the time, it was a lot to do.Then I found that when I got down on my knees and they said 'take them around', I couldn't get back up," she said.

"That was the end of that," Paul adds. "No more dogs you had to get down on the floor with."

"We still wanted to show, so we went to these little characters." Juanita indicated the Miniature Pinscher sitting in her lap. "We bought a couple of Min Pins down in Florida. We had to wait two years to get a Min Pin at that time."

"And, we've finished somewhere between 30 and 35. We've stuck with them ever since." Min Pins have brought more showing success, their CH Janeff's Sparkle Plenty, whom Paul named, was the number one Miniature Pinscher bitch in the country.

In 1957, the Keans built an 18 run kennel on 13 acres in south Kansas City. For 21 years, they boarded dogs there. "They were almost all show dogs," Juanita noted. "When Bee (Schlesinger) went to a show, one side of our kennel would be her Kerries."

For the Keans, who celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in July 1996, showing has always been a family affair. Their kennel name, Janeff, comes from the names of their two children, Janis and Jeffrey. While Paul and Juanita have ventured into other breeds their daughter, Janis, is still in German Shepherds where she has had many top winners. She currently serves as president of the Ventura, California GSD Club.

Involvement in dog clubs has always gone hand in hand with dog showing for the Keans. In addition to Paul's involvement with the German Shepherd Club, Juanita helped to start the Heart of America Poodle Club and served on its board of directors.

Unlike the other HOAKC presidents, Paul did handle dogs when the Keans showed their German Shepherds. But his involvement in club activities soon took precedence, and he found himself more involved behind the scenes than in the ring.

While president of the local GSD Club, Paul met Mel Schlesinger who asked him to join the Heart of America Kennel Club. Later he was elected vice-president and served in that capacity until Schlesinger's death in 1982 when he became president.

During his presidency, Kean instituted conformation handling classes and brought the Topeka and Leavenworth Kennel Clubs together for the cluster shows that still exist today. "Clusters became popular back in the 70's, during the time of the gas shortage," Paul recalls.

"I tried to follow in Mel's footsteps, to run the club the way he did," he said.

When asked what he enjoys most about dog showing, Paul does not hesitate in his answer. "I enjoy the winning," he laughs. He is quick to add, "and the friendships. In dog showing, you meet people from all over the country from all walks of life. It's a very diverse group and I like that."

"Of course, you also have to like to win, if you're going to be successful. And, you have to have the desire to improve your breed," Juanita agrees.

As for the next 50 years of the Heart of America Kennel Club, Paul has his usual high expectations. "I hope that the entries stay among the top and they grow. The most important thing is to continue to put on good shows."

What Bob does like about dog shows is the people who exhibit and the interesting people he's met in the sport through the years. "I think we've each channeled our interests into different areas. Judy likes the puppies and the dogs. I like the people," he said.

"You don't now," Judy pipes in.

The Goodins joined the Heart of America Kennel Club shortly after getting their first show dog, "which happened to be a Saint Bernard," Bob notes. That was in 1964. "We really got involved a couple of years later," he explains. "We helped with matches; I think I judged a couple of them." It is the Schlesingers that Bob credits with their longevity in the sport. "If it hadn't been for Mel and Bee, we would not be as active in dogs or as successful. They sort of took us under their wing. If we ever had a problem, Mel was always there," Bob said. "He was a great guy. He was probably the most sincere person, even though he was rather stern. He wouldn't do anything morally or ethically wrong. He made the kennel club."

It was Schlesinger who invited Bob to become a director of the club. "That was in the early 70's," he recalled. "I was a director until '82, when Mel passed away. Paul (Kean) went in as president and I became vice-president. Then, I was appointed to serve out Paul's unexpired term when he retired. The first year I was elected was in 1994."

"I believe that much of the success of the club is because of the first two presidents, they were really strong people," Bob observed.

He makes no secret that the March show is his favorite and that he has high aspirations for the 50th anniversary show. "I'd like to see us have a 3000 dog entry at the March show. Then, I'd put any money we made back into the club, to do something for the members."

Through the years, the Heart of America Kennel Club has contributed substantially to a variety of canine charities including trusts at both the University of Missouri and Kansas State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. The club has also made donations to organizations including the Dog Museum, Kansas Service Dogs, Kansas City Veterinary Society and the American Kennel Club.

From their original breed, Saint Bernards shown under the kennel name Alpler, meaning son of Alps dwellers, the Goodins have moved to their current primary breed, Pointers, under the registered name, Emerydon. "Emery is my mother's maiden name, and she is from England. I don't know where the don part came from, I just added it," Judy explained. At one time or another, they have also owned Shih Tzu, Chinese Shar Pei, Salukis, Japanese Chin, and, soon, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Bob Goodin reserves his dog activities to outside the ring. "I've probably shown a dog three or four times," he said. "When Judy had won a couple of classes, and I had to go in. Every time I did that, I won. That's why I don't show, because I don't want to win all the time," he added with a grin.

The Goodins' advice to newcomers to the sport of dogs, "Start small, at local shows," Bob advised. "Of course get a good dog. People who think they can breed and supplement their income, that's the wrong approach. Any money you might make from selling some puppies is more than offset by the cost of exhibiting."

"First of all, you have to love the animals," Judy adds. "People have to be willing to dedicate the time and the attention and the money it takes to show dogs. I'd also advise people not to get caught up in the gossip and the politics."

On his intentions for the Golden Anniversary show, Bob says, "I want it to be a tribute to "Bee, she is a very knowledgeable dog person. She means a lot to Judy and me. Also for Mel. I have always admired Mel Schlesinger. Probably more than any individual that I know, other than certainly my parents, he has been the most positive influence on me. We learned a lot from him. Not only was he a great dog person, he was a successful businessman. Mel never, ever had anything bad to say about anybody that I can remember. He always had something positive to say about people," Bob recalled.

"I'd also like for the show to be successful. Something that people will remember for the next 50 years. And, I'd like for everybody to have a good time," he said.