Heart Acre Boxers Story

Our Story

Written by James W. Kilman M.D.

I first became interested in Boxers while at the U.S. Navy School of Aviation Medicine and Research in Pensacola, Florida in 1953. I acquired a plain brindle bitch from a fellow Navy Chief Petty Officer that was a Bang-Away granddaughter and she was a family pet for many years. After leaving active Navy service I was busy for several years with medical training, a residency in cardiac surgery, and furthering my career as a Professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and raising a family.

Priscilla and I had a pet Boxer during that time but our first show Boxer was a son of Ch Merrilane's April Fashion (Punky) obtained from our neighbor and mentor, Coleman cook, who was also Punky's owner.

Our Boxer, Ch Bremhaven's Billy Dart, became the 27th champion for Punky. We next purchased a puppy bitch, RaJa's Black Satin, who gave us our first homebred champion, Heart Acres Emblem of Love. "Emmy" died an accidental death shortly after finishing her championship so was never bred. Her plain, brindle litter sister, Heart Acres Sweet Roxanne, was eventually bred to our "Leo", Am/Can Ch Josha's Linebacker CD SOM. who we had purchased as a promising young special in 1990. Roxanne red to Leo produced a puppy bitch named Heart Acres Satin Lining, who has been the foundation bitch for all of our recent success in our breeding program. We finished 15 champions under the Heart Acre Kennel name. Leo has become a prepotent producer for our breed. After his specials career, Leo was handled to his obedience title by Priscilla.

I have served the ABC as the Good Sportsmanship Chairman for several years, as a member of the Health and Research Committee, and was honored being elected to the Board of ABC and at the present time serve as Vice-President. I have enjoyed being a sweepstakes judge for several Boxer Specialties and am looking forward to being the Sweepstakes judge at the prestigious New Jersey Boxer Club Show.