Dale Parker

Dale Parker (D.P.)
1944 ~ 2013
Dale Arthur Parker was born September 25, 1944 in Atlantic, Iowa and moved on to better hunting grounds on Christmas day 2013 in Emmett, Idaho. He was born to Rex and June Parker and after moving to Littleton, Colorado spent his early years with his 'adoptive' family of Dr. Abe Wood and his wife, Helen. Dale married Mary Wood in 1972 and later divorced in 1987.
In 1976 Dale, Mary and Linda Wood formed a horse training facility in Montrose, CO called "Menoken Farm" which Linda continues to own and manage today. In 1982, Dale and Don Miller (DE) a close friend and hunting partner formed a small hunting club to support their desire to maintain a larger hunting area than Menoken Farm proper and the adjoining farm owned by Mrs. Helen Wood. The hunting club became known as "Camp Nine" (the bunks in the clubhouse were held together with "number 9 wire") The newly formed hunting club covered a large area of neighbors' land and became the source of many wonderful duck and goose hunting experiences for numerous friends and members of the little hunting club. Several members of the hunting club were owners and or chefs of noted restaurants in the Aspen and Vail area. Dale and friends enjoyed many dinners by this incredible assemblage of fine chefs.
Dale's animal training abilities were nothing short of miraculous. A very small number of people possess the abilities to handle and train horses, dogs, and even cats as Dale had. We all witnessed an uncanny training feat for a cat named "Goto". Dale trained this cat to to sit, stay and come. This was testament on an unusual ability to communicate and gain trust with an animal. Over the years of training dogs, Dale developed a breed of his own, known as "Parker Pointers". These dogs were a cross of the best English pointers and German shorthair pointers Dale found. For over twenty years Dale continued to refine the out crossing and crossing to generate the ultimate upland bird hunting dog. Dale accomplished his goal. For all who had the opportunity to hunt behind these dogs and to watch the dogs hunt for Dale it was something to behold. The same values and qualities necessary to silently command the respect and response from animals were the same qualities Dale demonstrated to all people who knew and worked with him.
Dale was associated with the horse racing industry since his youth; as a jockey, race starter, starter judge, race steward (Judge Parker), race track general manager, horse trainer, consultant and lobbyist for the industry. He spent time as a steward at many different tracks including Centennial in Littleton, CO, San Juan Downs in Farmington, NM and most recently, Wyoming Downs in Evanston, WY. Dale conducted his responsibility as a race steward with utmost of respect. Dale's conviction in all his decisions was that there are two sides to any story.
In 1992 Dale joined his good friend, DE in McCall, ID to enjoy a new adventure in the mountain valleys and back country of the great state of Idaho. Everywhere Dale went he quickly built new friendships and in Long Valley it was the same story - Anyone who had the opportunity to spend time with Dale learned to love him like a son or brother. During the years in McCall Dale continued the race steward position and later became general manager of Wyoming Downs.
In 1992 Dale moved to the Emmett Valley where he could have a horse or two in the winter time and for the next 19 years he enjoyed the climate and wonderful people of the valley. As always he became involved in the horse racing families and the fair racing program of Gem County. Dale continued to travel to work at Wyoming Downs in the summer and back to Emmett for hunting in the fall, skiing in the winter and preparing his famous jellies and jams from the multitude of cherry and apple orchards in the area. These jars of jellies were given from his heart to his friends and anyone else Dale thought would like or need some.
In recent years Dale spent a significant amount of time and energy to lobby the Idaho State Legislature to pass a law allowing para mutual betting for the county fair system statewide. Dale was successful in accomplishing the goal and the future of racing for the county fairs has a better chance of surviving because of his relentless efforts.
All who new Dale can look up and see him smiling down on us. We all will feel his spirit for the rest of our time in this life.
Dale is preceded in death by his birth parents, Rex and June Parker and his adoptive parents, Abe and Helen Wood. Dale is survived by two maternal sisters, Cindy (Bill) Dirschl of Shawnee Mission, KS and Thelma (Vernon) Tovrea of Canyon City, CO and adoptive siblings; Bill (Janna) Wood of Denver CO, Mary Wood (John Cossick) of Montrose, CO, Earl (Virginia) Wood of Pueblo, CO, Marti Wood of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Linda Wood of Montrose, CO and 16 nieces and nephews.
A heartfelt thanks to all of Dale's friends who took the opportunity to help Dale during his last months including Jean Betzold and her staff at Serenity Living Care Center in Emmett.
Memorial donations in Dales name may be made to the Gem County Fair Board Racing, PO Box 443, Emmett, ID 83617.
Two celebrations of Dale's life will be held at a later date. One will be held the beginning of April Spring Racing at the Emmett Race Track and one in Montrose, CO at Menoken Farms in April.