Dick was born in Prineville, Oregon on December 12, 1927, (to an ever growing family) eventually (13) with 8 boys and 5 girls.
The family moved to Deming, Washington in 1929. He attended Bell Creek school near the Nooksack River during grades 1 to 4, the 5th grade at Welcome School, grades 6 - 8 at Acme School and at Mt. Baker High 9 - 11, when he left to join the Navy in 1944, serving as a “signalman” on board the USS Saratoga during WWII in the Pacific theatre. He spent three years proudly serving his country. Dick received his diploma while serving in the Navy.
Dick met Margaret Allen in Sedro Woolley and fell “head over heels” with the love of his life, they married in 1948. They had 3 children, Jeff, Rick & Vicky, but the kids always found extra friends to bring home for Dick & Margie to help raise so it was not uncommon to find 8 or more at home. Dick & Margie have 10 grandchildren and “21” great grandchildren. Dick & Margie love spending time with their family whether it is with the grandkids or siblings. Dick loves playing with the kids and he can tease them unmercifully! He even finds time to teach some of them how to fish. Dick and Margie remain close with all their “kids” no matter how far away they live. Dick also loves to talk about “old” times & tell stories about growing up with his siblings.

Dick logged with brother Howard when he was 15 years old, then went on later after the Navy to log with Svend Larsen, Glen Corning, Galbraith brothers, Arne Carlin, Hammer Brothers and Dawson. Dick & Margie moved to Snohomish, Washington in 1959 and started Hammer Log, and Hammer Trucking with brothers, Ray and Bill. Bill left to start his own business so Dick and Ray started Pioneer Log in 1964 and continued to operate Pioneer Log until 1990.  Before steel towers came in Dick enjoyed tree topping and rigging the spar trees.

He started singing gospel music with the Seattle Crossroads Quartet and sang with such celebrities as Red Foley, Rex Allen, Roy Clark, Pat Boone, Jimmy Dean, The Oak Ridge Boys, and many more. Dick remembers the “Crossroads” competing with the well known Oak Ridge Boys and the Crossroads won the event! Dick still sings today in the gospel quartet loving every minute of performing and the close relationship that has developed between the members of the quartet. The Crossroads travel throughout the Pacific Northwest treating their audiences to memorable songs and laughter.

With Dick’s “Git-R-Done” attitude he was as some said an accident waiting to happen. This proved true in 1965 when he and a rock slide met head on, with Dick on the losing end. After some time in the hospital with a cracked skull, broken ribs, cuts and bruises, he went back to work, doing what he loved. “Logging.”  Dick competed many years in numerous events at the Deming Log Show, hand bucking, cable splicing, tree topping and chopping. Dick has been a supporter of the Deming Log Show since almost its’ inception and continues to support the show’s efforts to help “Busted Up Loggers”.

In December of 1990, Dick began working for brother Jerry at A.L.R.T. Corporation in Timber Purchase and Marketing. He just couldn’t retire and because of his love of work and wanting to accomplish more in his already full life, he and Margie moved to Burlington in July of 1992 to be closer to his work rather than “Retire.” Even at the ripe age of 82 he is still looking for Timber for A.L.R.T. He says that he can’t retire in case there’s no timber in Heaven, so he has to “Git-R-Done” while he’s still here. He has no thoughts of retiring!

The Deming Log Show is honored to have Dick for our 2010 Bull of the Woods!!