Club History

The 1960’s saw the suburbanization of America in full swing. Atlanta was growing and becoming a mega-center of government, education, transportation and commerce. The WWII generation moved off the farms and out of the city. It seemed as if most everyone wanted a few acres in the suburbs to raise their baby boom kids. These families now had room in their back yards for pets.

Popular images of the St. Bernard dog were frequently seen on the silver screen, the television and in print media advertising. America was falling in love with this fine, handsome breed and the popularity of Saints as family pet began to skyrocket nationwide. The Saint Bernard Club of America, founded 80 years previously, had a long history of educating the public. But Southerners were just beginning to embrace the breed as the first dogs entered the Sunbelt.

The first Saint fanciers in Atlanta realized they had a problem. Pet owners were buying up dozens of poorly bred specimens of questionable health and temperament. Examples of good breed type were seldom found. An informal meeting was held September 22, 1968 to discuss the feasibility of forming a breed club to advance the breed. While the meeting was conducted, Hannibal, a charter Saint spent his time lolling in a nearby fountain.

The first year was like a game of leapfrog with three steps backward for every giant step forward. Each challenge was met with determination of the members and much help from the parent club. They developed a program of activities. Dogs were tattooed to counteract dog-knappings. They marched in the Easter Seal Parade. Owners were encouraged to enter their dogs in AKC approved shows and matches. Obedience training classes were organized. Homeless dogs were placed and lost dogs were recovered. Plans to upgrade litters and discourage puppy mills were initiated. The club newsletter, “The Dixie Saint” was born to provide educational articles and also to encourage the novice owner.

The SBCGA was incorporated in May 1969. The AKC approved our Constitution and sanctioned our first B-Match in September 1969. Then the real work began. A succession of Fun matches, A-Matches and B-Matches were held. Ed Poor, Allen Shi, Larry Shaw, Marlene Anderson, Helene Knight, and Deborah Lawson judged the fun matches. Conformation and obedience classes were formed. Some members left and new members replaced them. The club matured. Members visited kennels all over the U.S. Some even went to Switzerland and imported Swiss stock.

The long arduous climb to a Specialty Show was begun with a Sanctioned B Match on October 19, 1969. A total of five B Matches, judged by Roy Ayers, Pat Behrns, Gail Devine, Donald Combee and Ken Nelson, were accomplished. Then a giant step occurred with the two Sanctioned A Matches, judged by Herman Peabody and Gail Devine.

The year 1974 was a watershed year for the club. The first Saint Bernard Specialty Show ever held in the South was held Sunday, April 4, 1974 at Phipps Plaza on Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Mrs. Deborah Lawson judged all male classes. Mr. Herman Peabody judged all female classes and intersex competition. There were 136 entries and 112 Saints actually competed.

Sunday, April 14, 1974
First Annual Specialty Show
Phipps Shopping Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia
Show Chair: Mr. Jack Ragland
Ring Steward: Mrs. Diana Jackson
112 Saints competed
Entry: 63-64-9
All Male Classes judged by: Mrs. Deborah Lawson
All Female Classes & Intersex competition judged by: Mr. Herman Peabody

BISS: Ch. Da-Lu’s Red Eagle – J. Wolf & S. Coop
BOW: Winterset’s Cullanda John – K. & E. Nelson
BOS: Ch. McDe’s Daughter Of Just Sam – O. & M. Pruitt
WD: Winterset’s Cullanda John – K. & E. Nelson
RWD: Opdyke’s Hair – M.J. Carter
WB: Mardonof’s Riga Von Image – M.L. & D. Dube
RWB: Sanctuary Woods Leona Rosalie – B. Knight

Governor Jimmy Carter and Mayor Maynard Jackson both delivered their personal greetings and welcomes to the exhibitors. Many of the top breeders in America, who are now household names in the breed, exhibited their finest at the show. In June 1974, Ms. Beatrice Knight came back down to Atlanta to show movies of her famous dogs and present a talk on breed type. The seminar was well attended and a smashing success.

Our sincere appreciation and gratitude is given to the founding Officers and Directors: Mr. Carl Allsup, Mrs. Rufus Carswell, Mrs. Margie Butler, Mrs. Margaret Koger, Mrs. J.O. McClay, Mr. Ronald Nelms, Mr Otis Pruitt, Mr. James Respess, Mrs. H.R. Stephens, Mr. Walter Sussong and Mr. Gene Williams.

Right behind the founders were a core group of Saint fanciers that took the club from foundation to the next level. They include Mr. & Mrs. Donald & Janet Mansfield, Mr. & Mrs. Dick & Martha Gross, Mr. & Mrs. Barry and Judy Roland, and Mrs. Mary Cramer. These people devoted countless hours over a period of many years in advancing the club, in order to enhance the lives of all Saint Bernards. They recruited new fanciers and helped to educate them about all Saintly matters.

Atlanta’s population has grown from one million to over four and a half million during the intervening years. As the value of in-town property increased, the membership has spread all over Georgia and the Southeastern United States. The membership now encompasses fanciers from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas.

The breed popularity has thankfully waned since the heydays of the seventies. The fast buck artists left in search of the next fad breed. The club is primarily made up of the baby boom generation that has lived a lifelong commitment to their Saints. They are a loyal dedicated group who value and are passionate about the quality and welfare of Saint Bernards. They are ready, willing, and able to give time and attention to the novice fancier. They want to pass the torch to the next generation of Saint fanciers knowing that these magnificent animals were well served and the younger folks can carry on the grand tradition.