Friends and family of Vicki Bronson & Leona Pagano have made donations to the Club in their memories. This generosity has enabled us to establish a Scholarship in their honor, with the first $1,000 scholarship to be awarded in the fall of 2010.


Lee Pagano

Leona Suzanne Pagano, PhD moved to Grove from Ft Lauderdale, FL to be closer to faily, joined Northeast Oklahoma Kennel Club in 2005. As a retired vocational economics teacher and national & international financial advisor, Lee claimed she was ready to be a lady of leisure and yet, she never stopped moving!

Anyone who met Lee quickly realized that dogs were always a large part of her life. From the childhood cocker spaniel that survived Lee’s violin practice, to the St Bernard that she claimed as her third “child,” Lee always had dogs. She finally settled on her favorite breed after her first Shih-Tzu (“Mitzi”) stole her heart, and made her move to Grove with a rescue Shih-Tzu (“Little Bit”). Soon after moving to Grove, she rescued another Shih-Tzu (“Ginger”). The three ladies searched out the Kennel Club for obedience training and became members immediately. We teased her often that she spent more money on grooming her “girls” than most of us did on ourselves.

Lee’s quick wit, intelligence and joy of living were infectious. She never approached any idea half-way and motivated others around her with her positive attitude. Before our Club had completed its building, and we were in need of a place to hold our annual Xmas party, Lee told our membership she could secure a place … and did. She was quick to reach for her checkbook when funds were needed for a project, and just as quickly offered her time and friendship.

Lee left us, without warning and much too soon. We will miss her smile and her friendship.




Vicki Bronson

Vicki Bronson became a member of Northeast Oklahoma Kennel Club over thirteen years ago, long before our Club had its own building and before our annual AKC Shows.
She was a driving force in sustaining our Club through the dog washes, sanctioned matches and early growing pains. As a Board Member and Corresponding Secretary, her quiet consistency and practical business sense has helped our Club flourish over the years.

Fortunately for us, Vicki came to us with a background in obedience training and competition, and first-hand knowledge of so many breeds. She was one of our Basic Obedience Instructors, and competed in Obedience with her Collies. She was one of our first members to achieve a Rally Excellent Title. When we formed our therapy group (“Angel Paws”), Vicki was one of the first registered therapy teams in our Club with “Pepper” and she & Pepper were one of our first certified R.E.A.D. teams.

Vicki and her husband, Rick, have been extremely generous to our Club. As a struggling Club, they helped so much in the planning and construction of our building; when they remodeled their kitchen, they donated their original cabinetry & appliances for our building.

Vicki battled cancer for over ten years, and never complained. When Vicki’s health precluded her from fully participating in all Club projects, she sent Rick in her place or handled the tedious phone calls and chores of the Club from her home. Her faith, strength and courage earned our respect. We will miss her as a mentor and as a friend.