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I’m not sure how many of you knew Carole Connolly, because she had taken a quiet role these past five years since her miraculous recovery from her first brain aneurysm episode. Many did know her, but some of the newer members just might not and I want them to know what our breed has lost..

Carole was the beloved wife of John Connolly, one of the top boxer breed judges in the country. The two of them have been through "all the wars" of owning, breeding and showing Boxers. I don't know how many people knew how tirelessly Carole worked for the betterment of her breed. She had been an owner and breeder (Huffand’s Boxers) with Linda Huffman since 1971. John was their handler. They purchased Arriba's Ultimate and Ch. Arriba's High Hopes from Dr. Ted Fickes. These two boxers plus a breeding to Ch. Benjomin of Five T’s formed the foundation for their breeding program, a foundation that can be traced to many of the top winning boxer bloodlines today.

In 1974, Carole bred her bitch, Arriba’s Ultimate, to Linda’s Ch. Arriba’s High Hopes, producing Ch. Huffand's Charade. Charade was then bred back to her sire, High Hopes, producing what was later referred to as the "High" litter of four champions: Ch. Huffand’s High Time, Ch. Huffand’s High Test, Ch. Huffand’s Highland Fling and Ch. Huffand’s High Society. Next, Charade was bred to Ch. Benjomin of Five T's and this litter produced Ch. Huffand's Irish Rebel SOM and Ch.Huffand's Irish Spring. Those were indeed "high times" for Carole and John, who campaigned and bred their dogs, always with bettering the breed at the front of their minds.

Huffand Boxers had many sires and dams of merit. Their three SOM awards were for Ch. Huffand's Irish Rebel (seven champions), Ch. Huffand's Nice Enough (15 champions) and Ch. Wincaster's Tyger of Huffand (nine champions). The three DOM awards were for Ultimate (five champions), Charade (six champions) and Obsession (six champions).

At the 1978 ABC, Huffand Boxers won the ABC award for the kennel breeding the most champions and also for finishing the most champions. In 1996 the ABC presented Carole with the coveted Larry Downey Award.

As Carole gradually had to give up her active role in breeding and showing, she slipped into the role of volunteering for ABC and for the American Boxer Charitable Foundation. She had been a bookkeeper and let me tell you, Carole kept the ABCF books as though she were running IBM! At first, the ABCF only had a temporary tax number...and Carole wanted to be certain that everything was letter-perfect so the foundation could get the coveted 501(c)3 tax-exempt designation. Few realized how hard Carole worked, or how many hours she spent crossing every "t" and dotting every "i" to be certain every penny was unquestionably accounted for. When Carole wasn't actually working on those books, she was worrying about them.

Those who attended the ABCF Auction at the Nationals would see her at the side of the stage, fingers flying on her calculator...never having any time to ENJOY the auction. It was a work night for Carole, and she always focused completely on making the auction a financial success for the foundation. Then she worried about all the receipt letters...making sure they were as accurate as she could make them.

Just recently I received a fax from Carole with "WE GOT IT!" The ABCF was now an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and Carole was ecstatic! She had worked so hard for that and I’m thrilled that Carole lived to see the fruits of her labor.

In addition to her devotion to the Foundation, Carole was devoted to Boxers. She was a caring person and would reach out to help beginners. I count myself lucky to have been one of those Carole mentored. She was always available for advice and encouragement and gave them freely. Carole sponsored me for membership in ABC, urged me on when I was working to finish my bitch, was on the phone with help when I whelped my first litter. Carole was a true friend. I will miss her. Our beloved breed will miss her. Our Boxer community will never see her like again.

I hope all of you who knew Carole will send a memorial to the ABCF. Her fingers will be flying on that calculator in Heaven!

Memorials may be sent to: ABCF
c/o Bliss Bancroft
18670 Judicial Road
Lakeville, MN 55044