The last column I wrote about my trip to Ruidoso Downs, NM, for the All American Futurity prompted a letter from a long-time friend whom I’ve not seen or talked to for several years.
Dean H. Parker, Logan, UT, wrote a very nice letter to me about the old days together, and it sure did bring back lots of memories for me just as the column had for Dean. Dean’s business card read, “Dean H. Parker, Positermilogicalextitudinarian.” The translation for that is “Professional Auctioneer”…and, I might say, a darn good one.
Dean recalled he was the first auctioneer for the All American sale and sold it for 25 years, managing the sale for 15 of those years. It was a lot different back then and, as Dean remembered, it was real tough just to get quality horses consigned. I worked the sales for Dean back then and they’ve certainly changed over the years. Now it’s not uncommon for one horse to bring what we would gross on an entire sale back then.
Dean was the auctioneer on the first sale I ever worked as a ring man and that was the National Ram Sale in Salt Lake City. I was scared to death, but with his encouragement I made it through the sale.
When I first started traveling, I had the good fortune to work a lot of sales with Dean and his partner, the late Thane Lancaster of Filer, ID. Dean and Thane were a unique partnership. They had a chemistry on the block that has not been matched since. If there was a Quarter Horse sale of any consequence anywhere in the country, they managed it. Dean had his own plane and did the flying himself, and probably to this day he would have as many, if not more, hours than many commercial airline pilots.
I can remember working sales with Dean and Thane for such reputation ranches as Howard Pitzer in Nebraska, Guy Ray Rutland in Kansas, Matlock Rose in Texas, the Norells in Colorado, Hal and Lois Schudel in Oregon, the Quarter Horse sale during the National Western, and many more. I remember being absolutely mesmerized at seeing some of the great horses like Two Eyed Jack, Go Man Go, Mr. San Peppy and Easy Jet, or one of Thane’s favorites, Starduster. That was pretty heady stuff for a kid out of Montana having never ridden anything but a grade horse.
Today Dean still lives in the beautiful Cache Valley of northern Utah, and he and his son Lane operate the auction market at Smithfield, UT. If you’re ever in the Logan area, you need to give this man a call. I know Dean would love to visit with you.
Thanks for your friendship over the years, Dean. It’s been a great ride.
WANDER, WANDER…
The past few weeks have been very busy with sales nearly every day and, of course, lots of traveling. This last week, after some very successful sales for the Stollers at Bear Mountain Angus, Thomas Angus Ranch, and Bob and Nina Lundgren’s Bonina, Inc., I worked a sale in Roseburg, OR, for Packham Angus and ran into a well-known Montana Angus breeder, Dale Davis, PAPA Angus. Dale lives in Roseburg now and enjoys traveling with Nancy in their motorhome, but he just couldn’t resist coming to a sale when it’s that close.
As it happened, we had a daughter or two sired by Forte and Durabull in the sale, both of which have sterling reputations and both of which Dale raised. It was good to see him again and have the chance to visit. Dale is one of those early Angus breeders who paved the way and helped make the breed what it is today.
MORE WANDERING…
Although this is a busy time of year for many of us, it’s also a great time to be traveling the West and see some of the spectacular scenery the fall of the year brings. Last week, traveling in southwestern Oregon and northern California, the trees were in full color; being able to take time to enjoy the countryside makes all that windshield time worth it. Have a good fall and enjoy our great country. — Jerry York, WLJ fieldman
