History of the ABCA

Zac ABCA #1

The ABCA was founded in 1983 by a group of Border Collie breeders who wanted a democratic nonprofit organization to keep accurate records of working Border Collie bloodlines. The following is an account of the events and people involved:

After spending several months in 1982 assessing the need and identifying support for a member-owned, democratically run Border Collie registry, the supporters decided in mid-October in Jackson, Mississippi, to establish a new registry, to be called the American Border Collie Association, Inc. Bill Dillard from Matthews, Alabama, president of the Southern Stockdog Association and editor of the Southern Stock Dog Journal, and Ralph Pulfer from Quincy, Ohio, secured commitments and financial support for the new registry from Border Collie breeders, owners, and handlers in the United States and Canada. Leroy H. Boyd of Starkville, Mississippi, prepared the draft documents containing proposed bylaws and operating procedures. Bill Ready of Meridian, Mississippi, then incorporated the registry in Delaware. Raymond MacPherson from Brampton, Cumbria, England, provided copies of the International Sheep Dog Society Stud Book for the registry’s use.

The eleven charter Directors were: Bill Dillard, Alabama; Ralph Pulfer, Ohio; Leroy Boyd, Mississippi; Inez Schroeder, Arizona; Peggy Brown, South Dakota; Omar Falk, Oregon; Stan Moore, Tennessee; Guido Lomabardi, California; Edgar Gould, Massachusetts; Bob Childress, Texas; and Jim Clark, Ontario. On April 14, 1983, a Directors meeting and election of officers was held on the campus of Mississippi State University. Bill Dillard was elected President, Ralph Pulfer was elected Vice-president. Other Directors present for the meeting were Boyd, Moore, Lomabardi, Gould, and Clark. Mrs. Jerry West, Red Banks MS, Secretary of the Southern Stock Dog Association, who owned and operated a real estate business and tax service in Holly Springs, Mississippi, assumed the responsibilities of the first Secretary of the ABCA, Inc.  The ABCA was incorporated on June 10, 1983 and received IRS non-profit 501(c)(5) status in March 1993.

Additional Historical Tidbits

Location of Annual Meetings & Presidents Elected in that Year

YearLocationPresident
1983Meridian, MSBill Dillard
1984Dotham, ALBill Dillard / Ralph Pulfer
1985Knoxville, TNRalph Pulfer
1986Dotham, ALStan Moore
1987Knoxville, TNStan Moore
1988Buellton, CALeroy H. Boyd
1989Knoxville, TNLeroy H. Boyd
1990Conway, NHRobert Barlow
1991Louisville, KYRobert Barlow
1992Buellton, CAMike Neary
1993Louisville, KYMike Neary
1994Lexington, KYHerbert Holmes
1995Buellton, CAMike Hubbard
1996Lexington, KYLeroy H. Boyd
1997Klamath Falls, ORLeroy H. Boyd
1998El Reno OKDavid Arnold
1999Middletown VADavid Arnold
2000El Reno OKDavid Arnold
2001Klamath Falls, ORDavid Arnold
2002Lebanon, TNBruce Smart
2003Sturgis, SDBruce Smart
2004Sturgis, SDBruce Smart
2005Sturgis, SDBruce Smart
2006Klamath Falls, ORMike Neary
2007Gettysburg, PAMike Neary
2008Sturgis, SDJim Swift
2009Klamath Falls, ORJim Swift
2010Middletown, VAKate Ash
2011Carbondale, COEileen Stein
2012Klamath Falls, OREileen Stein
2013Middletown, VAEileen Stein
2014Carbondale, COEileen Stein
2015Alturus, CAMike Neary
2016Carbondale, COMike Neary
2017Middletown, VAMike Neary
2018Alturus, CAEmil Luedecke
2019Carbondale, COEmil Luedecke
2020no meeting (covid)Eileen Stein
2021Middletown, VAEileen Stein
2022Minden, NVEileen Stein
2023Carbondale, COJamie Spring

List of Past Directors (1997 – present)

Year123456789101112
1997L.Boyd [1]D.ArnoldB.BerhowR.BrownS.GlenS.LacyJP.LalondeM.NearyR.SchroederP.ShannahanI.WeirF.Wilson
1998L.Boyd [1]D.ArnoldB.BerhowR.BrownS.GlenS.LacyJP.LalondeB.FogtR.SchroederP.ShannahanI.WeirF.Wilson
1999L.BoydD.Arnold [1]B.BerhowR.BrownS.GlenS.LacyJP.LalondeB.FogtR.SchroederP.ShannahanA.Coker-SellsF.Wilson
2000L.BoydD.Arnold [1]B.BerhowR.BrownS.GlenS.LacyR.ChildB.FogtB.SmartP.ShannahanA.Coker-SellsF.Wilson
2001C.KennedyD.Arnold [1]B.LambertR.BrownS.GlenS.LacyR.ChildB.FogtB.SmartP.ShannahanA.Coker-SellsL.Scruggs
2002C.KennedyM.NearyB.LambertD.McCaigD.WallS.LacyR.ChildB.FogtB.Smart [1]P.ShannahanM.MchardyL.Scruggs
2003C.KennedyM.NearyB.LambertD.McCaigD.WallD.Gill [2]L.BurkesB.FogtB.Smart [1]G.WestbrookR.NufferL.Scruggs
2004E.SteinM.NearyM.PenfoldD.McCaigD.WallD.GillL.BurkesM.NewtonB.Smart [1]G.WestbrookR.NufferJ.Swift
2005E.SteinM.NearyM.PenfoldN.StewartS.CarvalhoD.GillL.BurkesM.NewtonB.Smart [1]G.WestbrookR.NufferJ.Swift
2006E.SteinM.Neary [1]M.PenfoldN.StewartS.CarvalhoD.GillL.BurkesM.NewtonK.BroadbentG.WestbrookR.FrenchJ.Swift
2007E.SteinM.Neary [1]M.PenfoldN.StewartS.CarvalhoD.GillL.BurkesL.HubbardI.Weir [2]G.WestbrookR.FrenchJ.Swift
2008E.SteinK.AshM.PenfoldN.StewartM.HanleyD.GillL.BurkesL.HubbardI.Weir [2]G.WestbrookR.FrenchJ.Swift [1]
2009E.SteinK.AshM.PenfoldN.StewartM.HanleyD.GillA.HickenbottomL.HubbardA.Coker-SellsM.HowardE.LuedeckeJ.Swift [1]
2010L.BoydK.Ash [1]M.PenfoldN.StewartM.HanleyD.HelsleyA.HickenbottomL.HubbardA.Coker-SellsM.HowardE.LuedeckeP.Ward
2011E.Stein [1]T.FlemingD.MontgomeryReyesM.HanleyD.HelsleyA.HickenbottomL.HubbardA.Coker-SellsM.HowardE.LuedeckeP.Ward
2012E.Stein [1]T.FlemingD.MontgomeryReyesM.HanleyD.HelsleyL.FogtL.HubbardB.RayM.HowardE.LuedeckeP.Ward
2013E.Stein [1]T.FlemingD.MontgomeryK.Stanley [2]M.HanleyD.HelsleyL.FogtE.BakerB.RayM.HowardE.LuedeckeM.Neary
2014E.Stein [1]J.SpringD.GellingsP.AndersonM.HanleyD.HelsleyW.Mick [2]E.BakerB.RayM.HowardE.LuedeckeM.Neary
2015E.SteinJ.SpringD.GellingsP.AndersonM.HanleyD.HelsleyW.MickE.BakerB.RayS.CraigA.HickenbottomM.Neary [1]
2016E.SteinJ.SpringD.GellingsP.AndersonP.ShannahanE.LuedeckeW.MickA.JarrardM.HanleyS.CraigA.HickenbottomM.Neary [1]
2017T.WilsonA.C-SellsD.GellingsP.AndersonP.ShannahanE.LuedeckeW.MickA.JarrardM.HanleyS.CraigA.HickenbottomM.Neary [1]
2018T.WilsonA.C-SellsD.GellingsP.AndersonP.ShannahanE.LuedeckeK.KnoxA.JarrardE.SteinJ.SpringB.StrangM.Neary [1]
2019T.WilsonA.C-SellsD.GellingsP.AndersonP.ShannahanE.Luedecke [1]K.KnoxA.JarrardE.SteinJ.SpringB.StrangB.Johnson
2020S.GlenA.C-SellsJ.ThayerT.TreadwellP.ShannahanE.Luedecke [1]K.KnoxA.JarrardE.Stein [1]J.SpringB.StrangB.Johnson
2021S.GlenA.C-SellsJ.ThayerT.TreadwellP.ShannahanW.MickK.KnoxA.JarrardE.Stein [1]J.SpringB.StrangB.Johnson
2022S.GlenA.C-SellsJ.ThayerT.TreadwellM.Minor
W.MickK.KnoxS.RhidenourE.Stein [1]J.SpringB.StrangM.Neary
2023S.GlenJ.HaynesA.JarrardL.CunninghamM.MinorW.MickK.KnoxS.RhidenourE.SteinJ.Spring [1]B.StrangM.Neary
2024S.GlenJ.HaynesA.JarrardL.CunninghamM.MinorW.MickP.AndersonS.Rhidenour [1]N.PenleyR.SalmonL.TesdahlM.Neary
Notes:[1] President[2] Partial term
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