Three very prominent dog show personalities passed away this week. JEAN WITT, the former Bulldog fancier who became the very popular and public face of the MB-F DOG SHOW ORGANIZATION as a superintendent, passed away on Wednesday, April 23rd. JEAN was a huge asset to MB-F, as she was always ready to help every exhibitor and was very accessible to all. The shows in her command were always well run and she was in demand by many show chairmen. She was a dear friend and she leaves a void in the sport. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to her son PETE, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Services were held last Monday in Greensboro, North Carolina. The family has requested that those wishing to make a contribution to TAKE THE LEAD in JEAN’S memory. BEVERLY LEHNIG, Silky Terrier breeder who went on to become a popular judge of Toys, Non Sporting and Terrier groups as well as best in show, passed away Wednesday evening in Jeffersonville, Indiana. A member of the Southern Indiana Kennel Club and former Louisville Kennel Club member, BEVERLY and her team made the Louisville Cluster of Dog Shows the great success that it was. She saw to every detail and certainly was the first lady of that weekend. Like many successful clusters, the leadership changes and the clusters are never the same. Clubs fall in and out of the weekend and they are never the same. Following a rather unpleasant episode BEVERLY was replaced and her absence was felt by many. Our deepest sympathies to her sister GLADYS & DAVID WOODSON and family. Services were held in Louisville. English Cocker Spaniel fancier and former member of the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club JIM HOLT passed away at the Raleigh Airport Sunday evening from an apparent heart attack. Following his board term, JIM became the voice of the kennel club in a newly formed position as the American Kennel Club Federal Government Relations Consultant. JIM was flying to North Carolina from his Arlington, Virginia home, where he was having meetings at the kennel club’s Raleigh offices. Our deepest sympathies to his partner of many years JACK RAMSAY. Early October is the deadline for submission of the eighth annual AKC/EUKANUBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP commemorative Poster Contest. Artists are asked to submit two-dimensional paintings or drawings celebrating the theme “The Wonderful World of Purebred Dogs.” The winning poster will be sold at the dog show and the profits will be given to TAKE THE LEAD. The winner will receive $1,000. plus a four-day trip for two to the dog show held in Long Beach, California in December. For further information visit the website www.akc.org/posterrules or write the American Kennel Club, 260 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016. Thursday evening was the New York premiere of KAREN LEFRAK’S “CAKE.” It was performed by the American Ballet Theater cast at the Joyce Theater. Among the theatergoers were ELLEN CHARLES, WENDELL SAMMET, JIM REYNOLDS, JOE VERGNETTI and MATT STANDER. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to GABRIEL RANGEL and his family on the sudden loss of his beloved father. Boxer fancier and designer of many kennel logos ARMANDO MIRO is in ICU at the Mercy Hosptial in Miami recuperating from major surgery. Friends can send their best wishes to ARMANDO at dejaboxer@aol.com. CHRISTINE ANDERSON is off to judge in Taiwan and Australia. Happy Birthday to the ageless and legendary STANLEY FLOWERS, who has proved that cigarettes and a martini may not help you but it can’t hurt you either. So, STAN, when do we write that book?.