I am a native-born Kansan, now living in Oklahoma for 30+ years.  I was married to Norman for 52 years, and together we bred registered Hereford cattle, with particular emphasis on an inbred strain developed by the United States Range and Livestock Research Stations. While attending the University of Kansas in 1957 we acquired our first AKC registered dog, a German Shepherd named Tabu, a name that was to become in future years our kennel prefix. A prefix that in the last 56 years has been carried, not only by over 125 homebred AKC Lhasa Apso champions, but also by German Shepherds, English Setters, Cairn Terriers, Tibetan Spaniels, Japanese Chins, Smooth Fox Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.  Additionally, I bred and owned  several Dual Champion Border Collies carrying the ranch brand XP.

I have many years of dog club experience in both all breed associations and specialty clubs. I joined an all breed club for the first time in 1959. I have served clubs in many ways, such as president of a parent club for 7 years, secretary of a parent club, 7 years as a parent club treasurer, as well as,  more years as a board member and committee chair than I can remember. I have served as the JEC for three parent clubs and am qualified to mentor many breeds. Presently, I am a member and serving either as an officer or board member of three all breed clubs, a member of two parent clubs and one regional specialty club.

I am the author of the Howell Book House publication, THE COMPLETE LHASA APSO; THE NEW COMPLETE LHASA APSO and the TFH publication AN OWNER'S GUIDE TO A HAPPY HEALTHY PET LHASA APSO.

We lived in Pennsylvania from 1965 to 1975 and during that time, I was a limited licensed professional handler and had the privilege of exhibiting at 100 shows a year which gave me a solid educational foundation on which to build for many breeds of dogs. I have been an AKC approved judge since 1983.