University Remembers Dale Wilkinson
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The University of Findlay community is mourning the passing of Dale E. Wilkinson, 84, of Waynesboro, Ga., who died Friday, March 12, 2010, at Doctors Hospital, Augusta, Ga.
He was born Aug. 3, 1925, in Tiffin, Ohio (Seneca County) to the late Leonard and Sarah (Lawrence) Wilkinson of Tiffin. He is survived by his wife, Lucinda (Sherman) Wilkinson. He has three children, son, Gary E., (Mary), Columbus, Ohio, Mae (Nick) Garber, Waynesboro, Ga., and April (Rick) Weaver, Erie, Pa. Grandchildren are Nathan (Meghan Wills) Wilkinson, Sarah Wilkinson (Matt) Kaminski, Megan Weaver, and Dakota Dale Garber. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.Wilkinson was preceded in death by a brother, Wayne Wilkinson, Tiffin, Ohio, and a sister, Helen (Wagner), Huntsville, Ala.
Wilkinson was a graduate of Tiffin Columbian High School, Tiffin, Ohio, and served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific theater during World War II.
He is best known for his lifelong dedication to the quarter horse profession and is considered “The Father of Modern Reining.”
He began training part-time in Sycamore, Ohio, in 1950 and expanded his business in 1954, moving to Millstream Stables, Findlay, Ohio. In 1963 he developed a 76-acre facility south of town where he co-founded The University of Findlay Equestrian Program in 1976.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate in Equine Entrepreneurial Management in 1997 by The University of Findlay in recognition of establishing the equestrian program and for his life’s work as a trainer and his stature in the equine industry. The Dale Wilkinson Western Equestrian Scholarship Fund has been established to honor his legacy. To contribute to the scholarship fund, click here.
Wilkinson is the only professional horse trainer to win both the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity and the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity and the only individual to be inducted into the NRHA, AQHA, NCHA, OQHA and OCHA Halls of Fame. He was also the first recipient of the Zane Schulte Memorial Award. In 1984, Dale moved his operation to Waynesboro, Ga., where it remains today.
He will be remembered as a mentor and an inspiration to many who pursued a career in the equestrian industry. To those who knew Dale, he was a “true cowboy.”
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17, in the Dale E. Wilkinson Arena at The University of Findlay’s Animal Sciences Center off Route 68. All are welcome to attend.
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