At one point, back in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, many Dachshund greats worked for the American Kennel Club and were vitally important to the organization. One of the last greats was Albert “Kippy” Van Court who passed away in early 1970 and was a sterling breeder and exhibitor of his White Gables dogs until the death of his first wife, Miriam. When Miriam passed, they were starting out a new young Dachshund, CH White Gables Basil ROMX, who was very valuable to breed to when the Heyings , the Shultis’ and the Dorwards were really moving the quality along in the late 40s and ’50s. Mr Van Court was a gentleman and a true expert on what a Dachshund had to have to be a great one. Later, after marrying Ramona, he became a strong fixture in exhibiting the best as well. He truly set the tone of what a Dachshund exhibitor can do to always be vital to the cause.
Later, during his second marriage to Ramona, he and she became the head of the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills and made it one of the great stops on the West Coast. After that, Mr Van Court became an AKC Delegate and later an AKC Director as well when his great personality gave him much sway in the AKC itself. He was quite a gentleman and was a pleasure for anyone to know. He truly set the tone of how popular he was at Dog Shows all over the world.
Soon after, while a member of the Westminster KC , he took over the Show Committee and got the Westminster KC Show to be the best in the USA. He was literally quite an amazing man. Sadly, then he passed away and everyone realized what a great guy who got along with everyone could be in the dog game. His loss sort of shattered the Dachshund Fancy, the Beverly Hills KC, the Westminster KGC and the American Kennel Club.
Sanford Roberts, publisher of The American Dachshund, asked a few people to comment on Mr Van Court’s passing and so I have included that here to show just what effect it was to lose this affable gentleman. He was a great one in my opinion and so read here what others thought about the loss of such a great successful gentleman.
This was Kippy Van Court – The Dachshund History Project (dachshundhistoryonline.com)
