Les Connell

Les was one of the organizers of the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers and was the first president of the organization. Les led the Federation for over 20 years, almost continuously until the fall of 2007. He also was one of the instructors for the senior judging class for over 20 years until the summer of 2009.

Les was known worldwide for his many contributions to the dahlia world. He has originated hundreds of new dahlias, since his first introduction, Koinonia, in 1974. He is well-known as a dahlia grower in the United States as well as other countries, particularly England, Australia, and New Zealand. He was been instrumental in obtaining new originations from those countries as well as sending US originations to them.

Les served been President of the Washington State Dahlia Society for many years and was been a member of other societies in the area as well.

Shortly after Les' death in 2020, the American Dahlia Society introduced a new medal named in his honor. The Les Connell Medal is awarded to the variety with the most awards in the five years after its introduction. The first medal was presented to Les' wife, Vivian, at a ceremony attended by several members of the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers.

Introductions
AFFIRMED	BB FD W	1993
ALENA ROSE	WL LB	2000
ALICE BABB	CO PK	1977
AMY K	B SC LB	1993
AMY KAY	MB PR	1974
ANDREA LYNN	BB LC OR	1975
ANDREW DAVID	A IC LB	1992
ANN ELEANOR	WL LB	1975
APRIL DAWN	B ID LB	1984
APRIL LOVE	B IC L	1983
ASLAN	A SC LB	1992
AUNTIE SIS	B SC W	1979
AUTUMN DECOR	B SC LB	1989
BEAUCON ORCHID	O DP	2003
BEAUCON WHITE	B ID W	2003
BEAUCON YELLOW	BB FD Y	2003
BECCA	BB FD L	1983
BIG HUMMER	A SC Y	1994
BIG ORANGE	A ID OR	1993
CALICO ROSE	BB FD V	2008
CAROL LYNN	M FD PK	1975
CARROT CAKE	BB LC OR	1988
CELEBRITY BALL	BA DP	1990
CHARISMA	BB LC Y	1974
CHEERY	BB FD DB	1984
CHRIS'S BABY	WL R	1987
CHRISTMAS CAROL	CO R	1988
CHRISTMAS STAR	OT DB	1986
CLASSIC A-1	B C BR	1994
CLOUD 9	BB ID LB	1990
CONTEST WINNER	BB SC Y	2003
CORRINE L	BB LC DP	1995
COTTON CANDY	B LC LB	1980
CRYSTAL ANNE	B SC FL	1992
CRYSTAL CLEAR	BB SC Y	1976
CURLY FLAME	A C FL	1998
DARK DELIGHT	BB IC DR	1979
DARK DESTINY	B LC PR	1999
DEBRA ANN	BB SC LB	1980
DELIAH	M SC PR	1998
DESIREE.	M FD L	2000
DOC	O PR	1988
DUKE OF EARL	B ID R	1992
ELDON WILSON	ST Y	1992
ELLEN HENRY	A IC LB	1991
ENDLESS DELIGHT	BB C L	1976
EVAN MATTHEW	CO DR	2001
EVENING SUN	B SC R	1977
FANCY FREE	B SC L	1984
FAR HORIZONS	CO DR	1990
FAR OUT	CO DB	1982
FERRIS WHEEL	CO V	1987
FIREPOWER.	WL R	1991
FLAME ON	B C FL	1991
FLASHY	B SC V	1980
FOND MEMORY	BB FD LB	1983
GARGANTUAN	AA SC LB	1994
GLOWING EMBER	M FD FL	1976
GOLDEN STAR	O Y	1981
GOODWILL 90	BB ID LB	1991
GRAND TETON'S	A SC LB	1992
HILARY DAWN	B C DP	1995
IRENE FLORENCE	B SC DP	1992
JENNIFER C	B SC L	2000
JERITA	B SC PK	1997
JESSIE G	BA PR	1994
JIM BOB	BA W	1991
JOYCE MARIE	WL LB	1989
JUBILATE	B SC LB	1978
JUMBO	BB FD W	1991
JUST PEACHY	BB SC LB	1986
KALALOCK SUNSET	B SC OR	1992
KEITH'S CHOICE	B FD DR	1991
KELLIE ANN	A SC W	1991
KEVIN N	B ID FL	1995
KIT KAT	A LC BR	1983
KOINONIA	M FD DB	1974
KRISTIN	BB SC DB	2001
LADY LAEL	WL Y	1997
LAVENDER BLUE	BA L	1987
LAVENDER FANTASY	B SC L	1991
LAVENDER LINE	BB C LB	1998
LAVENDER LOVELY	BB FD L	1984
LEMON SWIRL	BB ID Y	1996
LIL BUDDY	MB PR	1992
LINDA LOUISE	BB IC OR	2001
LITTLE FLOY	M FD LB	1975
LITTLE J	M SC LB	1998
LITTLE SHOWOFF	CO PR	1991
MAGIC MOMENT	B SC W	1983
MARILYN WOODWARD	M FD L	2011
MARSHMELLOW SKY	CO V	1998
MARVELOUS MANS	B LC DB	2006
MARY BRIDGE	BB SC PK	1989
MASTER'S TOUCH	O DR	1986
MATCHMAKER	BB ID BI	1986
MAUVE CLIMAX	A FD PK	1979
MIDNIGHT MAGIC	WL DR	1981
MILLIE	O PR	1987
MOM'S SPECIAL	A ID LB	1989
MR C	A SC LB	1997
NARNIA	B FD FL	1992
NEW CREATION	B FD Y	1982
NICO	B LC Y	1994
NICOLETTE	BB C Y	2001
O'CONDAH	WL PR	1995
OLLIE	M FD DP	1976
ORANGE JEWEL	BB FD OR	1975
PEARLY SHELLS	M FD LB	1988
PINK PARADE	B IC PK	1983
PIQUE	PE LB	1994
PLUCKY	A IC Y	1990
PREEMINENT	M FD PR	1994
PURPLE ROYALTY	M FD DB	1978
PURPLE SHADOWS	BB FD PR	1989
PURPLE SPLASH	WL V	1975
REBECCA LYNN	M FD DP	1987
RED ALERT	M FD R	1983
RED MAJESTY	B SC R	1987
RED REVERY	BB ID DR	1985
RED SPIRAL	BB SC R	1975
REGAL RED	BB FD DR	1980
RIISA	MB R	1996
RINGOLD	B SC LB	1993
ROBERT TOO	M FD DB	1977
ROUND-N-RED	BB ID R	1977
RUBY RED	M ID R	1987
RUTH ELAINE	BB LC Y	1988
SALMON BAKE	BA R	1988
SALMON DERBY	M FD DR	1977
SHADOW CAT	M FD DR	1986
SHADOW FAX	BB FD R	1988
SHEA CHRISTOPHER	BB FD L	1993
SHEABIRD	BB LC LB	1993
SHILO JAZZMAN	BB ID W	1989
SHIRLEY HUDSON	BA L	1982
SHRIMP LOUIE	A SC R	1996
SIZZLER	B SC R	1993
SKOOKUM	B LC FL	1994
SMOKEY GAL	B SC L	1985
SNOW WHITE	O W	1985
SONNY BOY	BB FD Y	1997
SPACE NEEDLE	A ID BI	1984
STACI ERIN	BB FD PR	1993
STARBRITE	O OR	1988
SUMMIT FESTIVAL	WL BI	2007
SUMMIT JUPITER	A C LB	1990
SUMMIT MAJESTY	BB SC PK	1988
SUMMIT MOONGLOW	B ID W	2013
SUN FLARE	BB LC Y	1986
SUN SPOT	M SC Y	1975
SUNFLARE	BB LC Y	1986
TAHOMA ADDISON	MB DR	2007
TAHOMA ALAN	BB FD W	2010
TAHOMA ALICIA	MB DP	2011
TAHOMA AMBLE	M FD BR	2017
TAHOMA AMY	BA PK	2010
TAHOMA ANDY	MB L	2012
TAHOMA ANGIE	CO W	2009
TAHOMA ANN C	B LC R	2016
TAHOMA APRIL	BA DP	2011
TAHOMA BANKER	M FD L	2013
TAHOMA BIG M	BB FD DB	2015
TAHOMA BIRDS NEST	B IC DB	2018
TAHOMA BLAZE	B LC FL	2004
TAHOMA BONNIE LASS	BB FD W	2015
TAHOMA BRIGHT EYES	BB SC Y	2012
TAHOMA BULLS EYE	S DP	2017
TAHOMA CARDINAL	ST DR	2006
TAHOMA CHINA DOLL	B IC R	2018
TAHOMA CHRYSTAL	BB FD W	2006
TAHOMA CONTRAST	CO FL	2017
TAHOMA CORINNE	M FD DB	2016
TAHOMA CURVE	BB IC BR	2017
TAHOMA DANDY	B LC Y	2019
TAHOMA DANIELLE	B LC L	2007
TAHOMA DARK DELIGHT	M FD DR	2017
TAHOMA DAZZLE	M FD DP	2008
TAHOMA DEEP PURPLE	M FD PR	2017
TAHOMA DUSTY	BB FD PR	2008
TAHOMA EARLY DAWN	BB ID W	2017
TAHOMA ELDEAN	S DP	2009
TAHOMA ELF	CO R	2018
TAHOMA ELI	MB DP	2007
TAHOMA ELITE	AN PR	2020
TAHOMA ENDEAVOR	BB SC DB	2014
TAHOMA FLARE	ST OR	2017
TAHOMA FLOY C	B C DB	2016
TAHOMA FURY	BB IC R	2019
TAHOMA GEORGE S	BB SC DB	2016
TAHOMA GIRAFFE	BB ID DB	2007
TAHOMA GOLD	M FD Y	2013
TAHOMA GOLD FINCH	OT Y	2017
TAHOMA HIGGO	B LC DB	2006
TAHOMA HOPE	O W	2004
TAHOMA JASMINE	M FD PR	2006
TAHOMA KELLI	M FD L	2010
TAHOMA KERRY	BA L	2012
TAHOMA KIM	M FD DR	2011
TAHOMA KIRK	M FD L	2011
TAHOMA LACE	B IC R	2017
TAHOMA LADY	BB FD L	2006
TAHOMA LADY OH	MB L	2010
TAHOMA LAEL	MB Y	2010
TAHOMA LAURIE J	BB LC DB	2016
TAHOMA LEMON TREE	BB IC LB	2020
TAHOMA LIZZIE	BB ID LB	2015
TAHOMA LUCAS	BA L	2008
TAHOMA MAGIC	B SC LB	2012
TAHOMA MARY S	B SC LB	2016
TAHOMA MINNIE B	MB DP	2011
TAHOMA MOONSHOT	O R	2006
TAHOMA MORN	BB FD W	2013
TAHOMA ODYSSEY	MB LB	2008
TAHOMA OLIVIA	M SC W	2009
TAHOMA ORANGE SLICE	BB C FL	2016
TAHOMA PEACH BLUSH	BB FD FL	2014
TAHOMA PIXIE	CO R	2017
TAHOMA PORCELAIN	WL W	2007
TAHOMA POWDER PUFF	B LC LB	2007
TAHOMA PRIDE	BA L	2011
TAHOMA RAINIER	BB SC W	2019
TAHOMA RAY C	B LC R	2016
TAHOMA RED DAWN	BB FD R	2012
TAHOMA RED TIDE	AA C R	2005
TAHOMA RILEY	ST LB	2010
TAHOMA ROYAL	BB C R	2018
TAHOMA ROYALTY	M FD PR	2006
TAHOMA SANDS	BB C LB	2007
TAHOMA SARAH B.	MB DP	2011
TAHOMA SAUNDRA	BB C DP	2007
TAHOMA SHEA	M FD DB	2010
TAHOMA SHERYL	BB FD PR	2010
TAHOMA SPLASH	BB FD V	2007
TAHOMA STAR	O DR	2003
TAHOMA STARDUST	BB FD LB	2012
TAHOMA STELLAR FELLER	ST W	2018
TAHOMA STRONG HEART	BB FD Y	2017
TAHOMA SUN	S Y	2004
TAHOMA SUN GLOW	MB Y	2014
TAHOMA SUNNY	BB C LB	2008
TAHOMA SUNSET	MB Y	2014
TAHOMA SUNSHINE	B C Y	2018
TAHOMA SUPERB	ST Y	2017
TAHOMA SURETHING	B C PK	2018
TAHOMA SWIRLS	BB LC Y	2008
TAHOMA TAFFY	BB FD OR	2006
TAHOMA TANGERINE	BB C FL	2008
TAHOMA TANGO	ST OR	2022
TAHOMA TASEL	B SC DB	2021
TAHOMA TELESTAR	O R	2004
TAHOMA THRILL	B IC W	2021
TAHOMA TIGER	BB FD OR	2020
TAHOMA TOM TOM	B SC DP	2005
TAHOMA TOPPER	PE L	2003
TAHOMA TWILIGHT	O PR	2005
TAHOMA TWINKLE	O PR	2005
TAHOMA TYLER	MB FL	2010
TAHOMA VELVET	BB FD DR	2016
TAHOMA VICTORIA F.	M FD PR	2010
TAHOMA VIV	BB IC FL	2008
TAHOMA VIVIAN	M FD FL	2011
TAHOMA YUKIKO LEE	B IC OR	2018
TALIA	B FD BR	1989
TAMARA MARSTON	B SC Y	1991
TED BENZINO	B SC LB	1976
TOP HONOR	BB LC DP	1994
TOPPER	WL R	1990
TWINKY	BB FD OR	1979
TWO FOLD	S V	1989
UNCLE SAM	M FD PR	1977
UNION GAP	M FD PR	1992
UTMOST	B LC FL	1995
V J	BB ID Y	1989
VANQUISHER	A SC LB	1990
VERNITA	B SC LB	1993
VIVIAN B	BB SC BI	1997
VIVIAN JUNE	BB SC R	1975
WELKIN	BB FD LB	1994
WHITE DELIGHT	M FD W	1979
WHITE KNIGHT	A IC W	1989
WHITE PURITY	BB FD W	1991
WINE FROST	O DR	1989
WINSOME	BB FD DB	1990
XANTHIC	A SC Y	1990
YELLOW FRILLS	BB SC Y	1976
YELLOW MOON	BB ID Y	1991
ZENITH	B C DP	1995
ZENO	S DR	1988