2013 Wetaskiwin Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

GARRY DORCHESTER ATHLETE
    
    Born in Wetaskiwin  Garry Dorchester was the eldest son of the legendary Tom Dorchester and grew up traveling the professional chuckwagon circuit with his parents and siblings.  During his relatively short 13 year career as a chuckwagon driver from 1966 to 1979, Garry won 14 races, a Central Alberta Chuckwagon Championship, a World Chuckwagon Championship and placed inside the top 10 in the world standings nine times. Throughout his chuckwagon career, Garry competed with a sense of skill, energy, emotion, courage and commitment.
    Garry started driving his own chuckwagon outfit in 1966 and had a respectable rookie year finishing the season in eighth place in the world standings.  In his second season, Garry won two races, was runner-up at the Calgary Stampede and finished the year in third place in the world standings.  1968, Garry’s third year on the circuit, was a banner year as Garry won both the Calgary Stampede and the World Chuckwagon Championship.  The 1968 Calgary Stampede was special for the Dorchester family as it was the first time that four Dorchesters would compete at the Rangeland Derby in the same year.  Garry joined his father Tom and brothers Dennis and Dallas in the event and although Garry was the last of the four Dorchesters to make their first start at the Stampede, he was the first Dorchester to win the coveted championship.
    In 1998 Garry was honored by the World Professional Chuckwagon Association with their ”Special Tribute Award” and in July 2011, he was inducted into the Calgary Stampede’s “Pioneers of Rodeo”, reinforcing that he is indeed a living legend in his sport.  

PHILLIP WILLIAM (BILL) MILNTHORP - BUILDER

    Bill Milnthorp has been dedicated to recreation and sport in the Wetaskiwin area for most of the 52 years that he has lived in Wetaskiwin.  He has served on many recreation committees,  organized many fund raising ventures, initiated some sporting activities, was Chairman or President of numerous sports-related organizations, coached teams in various sports and at many levels and through his varied and extensive involvement has made significant contributions to the citizens of our community. 
    Bill’s involvement began in 1961 when he supervised and ran a Junior High football program on Saturday mornings.    In 1962 when Wetaskiwin opened a new arena, Bill was co-chairman of the reborn Wetaskiwin Minor Hockey Association for the next five years. He also coached hockey for eight years. During the summers, Bill was involved with fastball and served on the executive of the Wetaskiwin Minor Fastball Association for five years. He coached both boy’s and girl’s fastball and umpired.    Beginning in 1967 Bill served on the Wetaskiwin Recreation Board for five years and was chairman for three of those years. From 1970 to 1972 Bill was on the Figure Skating Club executive as a Director and served a further two years as President of the Club.  
    From 1961 and for the following twenty five years Bill was a member of the Kinsmen Club (President from 1967-68) during which time he chaired a number of recreation-oriented projects.  In 1974 Bill was elected to City Council and served as a City Alderman for nine years.  The majority of Bill’s efforts were directed to improve recreation and recreation facilities. In the 70’s Bill served on the North Am Power Toboggan committee as Program Chairman. In 1985-1987 Bill chaired the Communities and Recreation and Cultural Grant committee, a sub-committee of the Wetaskiwin Recreation Board. During the late 80’s and early 90’s Bill served as a Director for the Wetaskiwin Golf Club and was President from 1991-1993. In 2004, Bill was one of the co-founders of the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame serving as chairman of the initial committee and then as President of the Board from 2005-2011. 
    Bill has given freely countless hours of his time toward the development of recreational programs and facilities in Wetaskiwin.  His foresight into recreational needs is evidenced by the present high quality and functional facilities that are in existence in our city today.
    The Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will take place on Saturday March 23, 2013 at the Best Western Wayside Inn Banquet Room. Tickets are available for purchase at the Wetaskiwin Credit Union. The deadline for ticket purchase is on March 15. For further info please check out www.wetaskiwinsportsfame.com