Mr. Atlee has been an approved AKC judge for 30 years. He became intensely involved in showing, breeding and then handling four decades ago. He is known principally for his Penthouse line of Dachshunds, which achieved noted success.

Born in Bucyrus, OH and a US Navy veteran, he graduated from Emerson College, Boston and then entered a lifelong career in the Broadway Theatre as a press agent or publicist. Recently he has served the entertainment industry as an actor, which was his original goal.

He began raising dogs on the rooftop of his New York City apartment (hence the name "Penthouse") and later moved his expanding dog activity and interest to Stone Ridge, NY where he maintained a kennel. He became an all-breed licensed handler and is a former member of the PHA.

He is currently approved to judge the Hound Group (seven breeds provisional) and three provisional Working breeds. He is the creator, co-founder and past President of the Knickerbocker Dachshund Club; a past Vice President and Chairman of the Miniature Committee of the Dachshund Club of America. He was a progenitor of the Empire Saluki Club, the Shawangunk Kennel Club and Miniature Dachshund clubs. As a past President of the Dog Fanciers Club of New York for 12 years, he created the Comtemporary American Dog Artists Contest, an annual event for that club which holds luncheon meetings at the famed Sardi's Restaurant. As such, he was twice nominated for a Fido Dog Man of the Year Award.

An ardent believer that confirmation dog showing is an art, he has backed up this theory in his breeding and judging. Principal breeds bred, besides all coats, colors and sizes of Dachshunds, are Salukis (with his wife, Barbara), Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, as well as other Hounds, Sporting, Non-Sporting and Toy breeds. Besides "outstanding specialty assignments, I have been privileged to have judged various Hounds in five separate assignments at Westminster."