Anne Rogers Clark

Anne Rogers Clark (1929 – 20 December 2006) was an American dog breeder and trainer and one of the few people licensed to judge all 165 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club. She was co-author of "The International Encyclopedia of Dogs" [cite book
authorlink= Anne Rogers Clark|coauthors= Clark, Annie Rodgers and Brace, Andrew H.|title= The International Encyclopedia of Dogs|date= 1995|publisher= Howell Book House|location= New York|isbn= 0-87605-624-9] and a fixture at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show since 1941.

Clark, who stood an imposing 6'2" tall, was the first woman to win best in show as a professional handler, and she ranked second among all handlers with three best in shows. Her 22 judging appearances at Westminster matched the record. [cite web|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/23/sports/othersports/23clark.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/W/Westminster%20Kennel%20Club%20Dog%20Show|title= Anne Rogers Clark, Imposing Dog Show Judge, Dies at 77|accessmonthday= 05/16|accessyear= 2008|author= STUART LAVIETES|date= December 23, 2006|work= New York Times]

Born in Flushing, Queens, her mother, Olga Hone Rogers, was a successful importer, breeder and exhibitor, who ran a kennel in Pound Ridge, New York. After graduating high school, she started a successful dog department at Abercrombie & Fitch, then opened a dog grooming service in Manhattan. She won her first best in show at Westminster in 1956. [cite web |url= http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2007/show/news/clark.html|title= Anne Rogers Clark, 1929-2006|accessmonthday= 05/16|accessyear= 2008|author= |date= |work= Westminster Kennel Club]

Clark was featured in two episodes of the ESPN Classic show "Cheap Seats", one of which featured the hosts paying tribute to her with a poem. She appeared in a documentary film by Shane MacDougall, "Wiener Takes All." [cite web |url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469857/|title= Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary|accessmonthday= 05/16|accessyear= 2008|author= |date= |work= Internet Movie Database]

Clark died in Wilmington, Delaware from kidney failure associated with colon cancer in 2006. She was predeceased by her husband, James Edward Clark.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2004/judges/clark.html Mrs. James Edward Clark profile] via Westminster Kennel Club
* [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061222/news_1m22clark.html Obituary, San Diego Union Tribune, "Anne Rogers Clark; luminary of dog show circuit; 77"]