Mr. Mangan of Pittston, PA breeds
Sir Roger DeCoverly
1910
George H. Ryman begins
breeding English Setters in Wilkes-Barre,
PA
1912
George Ryman begins breeding to Sir Roger
DeCoverly
1913
Dr. H. M. Beck, a dentist
from Wilkes-Barre, Pa. acquires Sir Roger
DeCoverly
1916
Sir Roger DeCoverly II is bred by H. M.
Posten, Wilkes-Barre, PA and is registered
to G. H. Ryman in Wilkes-Barre, PA
1916
Sir Roger DeCoverly II
Jr. is bred by and registered to George Ryman
in Shohola Falls, PA
1916
The Ryman Kennel is established
1920’s – 1950’s
Ryman Kennel Established
as the Finest Dual Setter Kennel in the World
1955
George Ryman suffers a stroke, ending his
direct involvement in the kennel
1961
George Ryman dies
1962
Ellen Ryman marries Carl Calkins and they
use Carl’s money to renew the Kennel
and the business
1967
Ken and Nita Alexander
become involved with the Setters and then
the Ryman Kennels
1975
The Ryman Kennels is sold to Robert Sumner
from Lewisburg, West Virginia and his backer
Francis Beckley
1977
An unsuccessful attempt is made to join
the two Alexander and Sumner operations and
to build a new facility in West Virginia.
The two go their separate ways, with Alexander
forming DeCoverly Kennels. The Ryman Kennel
ceases to exist.
1982
Bill Sordoni buys a started Setter named
Smoky from DeCoverly Kennels
1992
Bill and Ken become partners and begin to
develop plans for a new DeCoverly
1995
Construction completed on a 20,000 square
foot state of the art kennel in Lake Winola,
PA
2005
Bill Sordoni’s son Bill becomes involved
in the Kennel as business manager
