Kutztown resident Robert “Bob” Brong received the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, which was presented by Terri Hilliard, President of the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club.
He has been involved with breeding, judging and showing dogs for more than 40 years, having obtained many championships of dogs owned, bred and owned by others.
Brong is a “life member” of the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club. Since joining in 1989, he has served as September Point Show Assistant Chairman, September Show Chairman, Board Member, Treasurer, Vice President and President (several terms). However, his dedication to “canine health and welfare” did not begin with the LVKC, for he is also the founding member of the Mason Dixon Ibizan Hound Club and served as Treasurer, Vice President and President of the Borzoi Club of Delaware Valley and the Borzoi Club of America.
While running for Vice President of the LVKC in 2011, he was quoted saying, “I am concerned with the economic downturn in our club’s finances. If elected, I will work to restore our club’s financial stability and focus on the sport of ‘purebred’ dogs.”
He is credited with helping, along with many others, to accomplish just that and so much more.
He and his wife, Missy, together more than 40 years, own and operate a boarding kennel in Kutztown.
Brong was born and raised in Allentown, and graduated from Allen High School. He attended Lehigh University and, after a tour in the U.S. Navy, accepted a job with State Farm Insurance Company where he was employed for more than 45 years as a large loss, fire and flood adjuster. During that time, he graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Muhlenberg College.
