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By definition, this award is given to those who “embodied the AKC code of Sportsmanship and have been an active and valued member” of the American Chesapeake Club. This year, it is being awarded to Pat Puwal. Congratulations!!!
Pat and Doug Puwal purchased their first Chesapeake from Les and Nancy Lowenthal in the 1970’s. Pat immediately became a very active member of the American Chesapeake Club. She did not care to do much handling of their dogs, but has supported the Club and breed in many venues.
Pat is always found at training days, picnic trials and obedience fun matches bright and early signing people up and collecting the fees. In fact, she and Doug helped put on many of those events, including training days and WD’s at Doug’s duck club on the shores of San Francisco Bay next to the “mothball fleet.” She has marshalled tirelessly at the All-Breed Field Trials, AKC Hunt Tests and at ACC Working Dog stakes. And when they lived in CA, they always were at the ACC supported show at Cow Palace -handing out Auntie Clara Poole’s famous city chicken and dog bone-shaped cookies!
Pat became a Regional Director while in CA, eventually being the West Coast co-chair. When she moved back East she soon became co-chair and eventually the chair for the East Coast and Overseas. She has been an ACC Board Member on numerous occasions and has held the offices of Secretary and Vice President. She is the contributing editor for Hunt Test stories/results for the Bulletin. She has served on several ACC committees – and is currently a member of the Lifetime Achievement and Editorial committees. In addition, she is a fantastic person to use as a sounding l board. Many ACC members have come to rely on her cool head and rational thinking. Pat is very diplomatic and with her years of experience in the breed, she is truly an asset to the Club. Congratulations Pat. You’ve certainly earned this commendation.