Lines From Linda The Collie Club of America Quarter Century Group In- ducts Roy L. Ayers and Marcia Keller into Hall of Fame BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR
T he Col- lie Club of A m e r i c a ’ s Q u a r t e r Century Collie Group gathered in Norfolk, Virginia, to celebrate two legendary induct- ees into their Hall of Fame, my father, Roy L. Ayers, Conrad Col- lies and Marcia Keller, Marnus Collies. This year’s event was held on board the spirit of Norfolk. As the yacht
Roy L. Ayers January 27, 1920 – September 19, 1993
Judging assignments took the Ayers to every state in the union, including Alaska and one of his favorite show sights Hawaii. Roy judged in Australia, New Zealand, South Ameri- ca, The West Indies, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and in every province in Canada as well as other countries. We remem- ber his stateliness, aristocratic air and contagious smile as he judged our Collie Club of America National Specialty Shows in Louisville, Kentucky and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our Nation- al Show of 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia was a tribute to Roy and Hazel. Always a Georgian, Roy trained hunting dogs as a young boy. He owned dogs all of his life and after his marriage to Hazel, Collies became their family pets. Then the show bug bit him. He became a successful breeder and exhibitor of Col- lies. His Conrad Collies captured Best in Show wins in this country as well as others. Just after World War II, when Japan held one of its first post war shows, it was one of Roy Ayers’ Conrad Collies which captured Best in Show. His dogs won the “Best in South” award two separate years. Two others, Ch. Conrad’s Music Maestro and Ch. Poplar Stop The Music were selected by Dog World magazine to represent the “ideal Collie” for their breed standards. He bred Ch. Conrad’s Sweet Expression, the first female Collie champion in Georgia. His concept of always doing things the right way, fueled by his genuine love for people and dogs endeared him to canine fanciers of all breeds, and he was elected to lead numerous dog club organizations: As President for five years and Vice President for one year, Roy lead the Southeastern Association of Kennel Clubs. He was the Atlanta Kennel Club’s Delegate to the American Kennel Club. The Collie Club of Georgia elected Roy the first State Director to the Collie Club of Amer- ica, and he served again as Director in 1976. He served as their President and Show Chairman for eight years. As Presi- dent of the Atlanta Kennel Club for five years and Vice Presi- dent another five years Roy and Hazel held positions on every committee of the club at some time. He was on the Board of Directors for over 25 years and was honored by the first Lifetime Achievement Award as a memorial to Roy. The club also established the “Roy Ayers Scholarship” as a permanent yearly endowment for the University of Georgia’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Roy was a lifetime member of the Oldtimers of the Kennel World. During the first five years of its beginning, Roy served on the Board of Directors of the Senior Conformation Judges Association. He traveled all over the country teaching breed seminars, giving training lessons and sharing his knowledge with others. Roy Ayers was the first judge in the history of our breed to become an all-breed judge. Both of his children became AKC judges, a rarity in the sport. Many dog publications featured articles written by Roy. He was a monthly columnist for Collie Review magazine and was a regular contributor for the favorite Dog World magazine, which presented him with their Award for Outstanding Ser- vice to Dogs. He is included in Who’s Who in American Dog- dom, Outstanding Distinguished Personalities of the South, and Who’s Judging Your Dog. Roy Ayers competence and sound judgment have become legendary. He remains the model that his successors seek to
slipped away from the dock our new president Tom Coen and Treasurer Heather Newcomb welcomed everyone. They also introduced special guests judges Gwen Means, Joseph Reno and Daniel Cardoza, Jr. and Dr. Diane E. Brown, Chief Executive Officer of AKC Canine Health Foundation. Presi- dent Coen thanked retiring President James Holliday for his 11 years on the Board and as President QCCG. HOF honoree Marcia Keller’s husband Ron Keller was surrounded by family members including daughter Carrie Lenhart and her husband Gary, Susan Curtis-Lenhart, grand- daughter-in-law, Kelly Curtis-Lenhart, granddaughter Chris- tine McDowell, daughter and granddaughter Emily McDow- ell. Roy Ayers family members present included Roy Ayers, Jr. and his wife Lina, daughter Linda Ayers Turner Knorr, grand- son Todd Turner and adopted family members Judy Cooper and Steve and Robette Johns. Continuing the traditions of Ralph Morrison, Murray Drucker and Chip and Pat Atkins, HOF placards featur- ing accomplishments of the honorees were made and dis- played by Leslie and Don Jeszewski the guardians of these historic treasures.
58 • S how S ight M agazine , M ay 2018
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