Hi Dug,
I think you are a little more ahead than I am on the Eckard family side. I do the researching for my family and my husband's getting info from him and his family in Denver. He is happy to find that he has family in CA and would love to talk and possibly visit with you.
We live on 7 acres outside of Paso Robles. My husband loves animals and raises golden retrievers. He Majored in Biology/Zoology in college. We have a website with his phone number and email address:
www.goldenretriever52.com. If you call or email him, I have already told him about you.
Take care and hope to hear from you soon.
Joyce & Alan