IPOC Lifetime Achievers

IPOC would like to recognize our Veteran Members who have made unusually significant contributions to IPOC and/or the Dog Training and Dog Sport worlds over their lifetime.

In April, 2007, the Board and the Membership approved a new category of membership -- Veteran Membership – to recognize members who have made unusually significant contributions to IPOC and/or the Dog Training and Dog Sport worlds over a long period of time.  This is an honor that may be bestowed from time to time by the Board.  In general, members selected for Veteran status should be: At least 65 years of age with at least 15 years of active membership and be in good standing.

a.  Veteran members will not be required to work events, hold office, or serve on committees, but may if they desire.  Merit points shall be awarded for work Veterans perform.

b.  Veteran Members are entitled to all Active Member privileges for life.

c.  Each Veteran Member shall have one vote.

d.  Annual membership fees shall be waived for Veteran Members.

Sam Gardner (Veteran Membership Approved May 10, 2007 and presented at the 2007 Awards Banquet) Sam is our first recipient of this very special honor. Sam has been a licensed AKC Judge for more than 55 years and a member of IPOC for over 37 years.  He played a key role in establishing IPOC’s formal affiliation with the AKC and is listed as a Board Member on the IPOC Charter.  Over the years, he has served in several capacities, including President and continues to support IPOC in a variety of ways. Sam is licensed by the AKC to judge all Obedience and Tracking. In Conformation, he is approved for Best In Show, the Non-Sporting Group, and All Retrievers, All Spaniels and Weimaraners in the Sporting Group.  He starting judging obedience in 1952 and is also approved for judging by Canadian Kennel Club.  In addition to judging hundreds of shows and trials around the United States Sam was selected to judge the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. Sam has owned and showed English Bulldogs, Standard Poodles, English Springer Spaniels, and Golden Retrievers in both conformation and obedience.  He served as President of the Association of Obedience Clubs and Judges in New York for several terms.  He was a delegate to the AKC representing the Port Chester Obedience Club for over five years.  He wrote the initial draft of the AKC Guidelines for Obedience Judges, which is now a part of the Judges directory.    Sam and his wife Margaret joined the Imperial Polk Obedience Club in 1970.  Margaret served as the editor of “Canine Capers,” the club's monthly newsletter, for about 30 years.  Additionally, she was actively showing dogs in obedience and was a highly respected club trainer for IPOC.   Education:  B.S. Chemical Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Southern California Military Service:   1940-1953  U.S. Marine Corps, World War II, and Korean War  Active duty in Iceland, Guadalcanal, Guam, Philippines, Korea, Japan  Highest rank: Major  Marine Corps (Reserve):  Designated Commanding Officer, Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 12 at Los Alamitos, CA Air Station. Post-war Employment:  Shell Chemical Company—Torrance, CA  Shell Chemical Company – New York, NY  Power Gas Corporation – London, UK  Davy Powergas Corporation – New York  Davy McKee Corporation - Lakeland, Florida  Retired in 1984 as Director of Commercial Development