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Association of Peoria County Veterinarians |
History
In the late summer of 1947, a group of area pure-bred dog fanciers and exhibitors met at the First National Bank Building in downtown Peoria and formed the Illinois Valley Kennel Club of Peoria, Inc., a not for profit organization dedicatee to the promotion and protection of pure-bred dogs in central Illinois. In October of 1947 the first Board of Directors were elected with Mr. Clarin F. Howe Jr. as president, William C. Carter, Vice President, Mrs. Garnet Gooch as Treasurer and Mrs. E.M. Rosser as Secretary. Mr. Sam Gooch, Mr. J.E. Wilson and Mr. Ivan Miller served as directors. Other members included Dr. and Mrs. J.F. Pula, Mrs. W.H. Schultz, and Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Paine.
The club was licensed by the American Kennel Club in 1948 and on Sunday May 23, 1948, the first Illinois Valley Kennel Club dog show was held at the Armory, 523 N. Adams St. in Peoria. The show was chaired by Mr. Howe and the other members of the board as committee. The event drew 597 entries in 51 breeds. Judges for the show where Mr. Forest N. Hall of Dallas, Texas, and Mr. Edward D. McQuown of Dayton, Ohio.
Judging started at 9:00 am and Groups and Best in Show started at 7:00pm in the evening. Best in show was awarded to Champion Gerd V.D. Luegt Von Edelweiss, a Saint Bernard owned and handled by Mr. Joseph H. Fleischli of Springfield, IL. This was one of Gerds 21 All breed Best in Show wins. The other finalist where the Irish Setter CH, Charles River Color Sargent, owned by Mrs. Frank Cory and handled by Mr. Dick Cooper, the longhaired Dachshund Ch. Tytucker of Gypsy Barn, owned by Mrs. Zabel and handled by W.C. Stark, the Scottish Terrier My Oscar, with Marion Jackson, the Pekingese Hop O' Tang of Lews Ave. handled by Pearl Fix, and the Boston Terrier CH. Palms Yan-eata with Rober Palm.
IVKC became a member club on March 13, 1951.
In the early 1980s the May show was moved to Bloomington and became part of the Memorial Day Cluster of Dog Shows with Corn Belt and Illinois Capitol Kennel Clubs. In 2003, the fall show, started in 1972 was also moved to the Bloomington Cluster.
Illinois Valley still presents an all breed match and Canine Good Citizen Test at Bielfeldt Park on the first Sunday in August.