Introducing Ourselves

Since CCI respects the privacy of its volunteers, it does not automatically put puppy raisers in contact with the folks that have named the pups. This is the letter we wrote to Henry's puppy raiser to introduce ourselves to them.

To Henry III’s Puppy Raisers:

Greetings from Roseville, California.  This note is to introduce us and give you a little background regarding Henry Simcoe, the person for whom Henry III is named.

We are Sally and Kent Simcoe.  Sally graduated from CCI (Northwest Region) in July 1992 with her service dog Ashelby, better known as Shelby.  Sally’s husband, Kent, is an active CCI volunteer.

We have been involved with CCI for the past 10 years.  Simcoe Communications is our video production company.  We have videotaped the Northwest graduations since March 1992.  We have done several promotional videos for CCI as well.  Sally is on the Northwest Board of Directors.

For more information about us:

·        If you have access to the Internet, you can view our website at: http://www.SimcoeCommunications.com.

·        Shelby has her own page at: http://www.SimcoeCommunications.com/cci/shelby.htm
where she describes her life as a working dog.

·        We have our last year’s newsletter posted at: http://www.SimcoeCommunications.com/spring2001/news.htm. 
Last year, CCI honored Kent’s support by naming a pup Simcoe.  There are links in the newsletter regarding Simcoe’s progress.

For several years we have wanted to honor Kent’s father, Henry, by having a puppy named in his honor.  At the 2001 Celebrity Chef Auction, we purchased that privilege.

About Henry Simcoe:

Henry Wilbur Simcoe was born in August 1914 in Kansas City, Missouri.  An early accomplishment was being named Regimental Commander of R.O.T.C. in Kansas City in 1931.  He attended West Point Prep School at Fort Snelling, Minnesota in 1931/1932.  Senator Harry S Truman refused to name Henry “third alternate” for the Missouri West Point nomination for 1932.  (Missouri had no West Point attendees that year.)  In late 1932 Henry joined the Field Artillery at Fort Riley, Kansas.  He was in the U.S. Army for three years.

In November 1935 Henry married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Bowen.  Kent was born in 1938.  A second son, Terry, was born in 1943.  From 1937 until 1963 Henry worked for the United States Post Office as a Railway Mail Clerk traveling between Kansas City and Chicago.  During World War II his work was considered “critical” to the war effort, so he was not recalled to the military. 

Kent and Terry both attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  Henry served many years as Scoutmaster.  Henry was an easy-going person, eager to lend a hand wherever needed.  A retriever named for Henry is a fitting tribute.

We would love to be in contact with you and keep track of Henry III’s progress.  Pictures will be great if you will share them with us.  Henry III will even get his own page on our website.

We can be reached:

·        Via e-mail at: SimComm@SimcoeCommunications.com

Thank you for being a puppy raiser for CCI.  We think it is a great organization and support it whole-heartedly.  As Sally always says during her demos, puppy-raisers are saints.  They are folks that are willing to take a pup into their homes, lives and hearts, raise them until they are perfect, and then turn them over to a stranger to provide service and greater independence.  What greater gift could there be?

It was a pleasure to name a puppy to honor a great guy.  We hope that you will keep in touch with us and let us know how Henry is doing. 

Best regards,

Sally & Kent Simcoe