King Buck’s Story
Photo courtesy of Cornell Baker Institute/Winchester NILO
The Cornell Research Laboratory for Diseases of Dogs, at The Baker Institute, was dedicated on January 5, 1951 and paved the way for significant research into virus diseases and vaccine development for dogs. It was the first permanent unit established for conducting research on dog diseases to be funded by private donations. Hundreds of dog owners, veterinarians, kennel clubs, hunt clubs, philanthropists and companies fill the donor list of the 1951 annual report.
John M. Olin, a Cornell alumnus and vice president of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Chairman of the board of the Olin Corporation was one of the Institute’s original philanthropists. An avid duck hunter with kennels full of hunting dogs, the most well-know of which is King Buck, Olin relied on Dr. Baker to vaccinate them against infectious hepatitis virus, now called canine adenovirus.
King Buck (1948-1962), a handsome black Labrador, was a gifted athlete. As a National Duck Retriever champion, he completed an unprecedented 63 series in the National Championship Stake, and in 1952 and 1953 he was the National Retriever Field Trial Club champ. This string of successes was not to be duplicated by any other dog for nearly forty years.
King Buck Honored as First Canine to Appear on a Duck Stamp
King Buck holds a special place in conservation art history as the first hunting dog ever featured on a U.S. Federal Duck Stamp, appearing on the 1959 stamp painted by Maynard Reece.
His inclusion marked a shift in how these stamps—part of the Federal Duck Stamp Program—recognized not just waterfowl, but also the role of working animals in hunting traditions. By featuring a retriever like King Buck, the artwork honored the partnership between hunters and their dogs, highlighting their essential role in retrieving waterfowl and supporting ethical hunting practices.