Dave Hutton (L)
October 4, 1947 – January 5, 2023
Receiving a 2008 WPCA Active Supporter Award from WPCA Marketing Consultant Steve Fountain (R)
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association was saddened by the news that Active Chuckwagon Supporter Dave Hutton had passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at the age of 75.
While living in a hot bed of chuckwagon racing in Bonnyville, Alberta, Dave became a big fan of chuckwagon racing and the WPCA, and served as President of the Bonnyville Agricultural Society from 2005 to 2012. When the idea of building a new racetrack to revive chuckwagon races in Bonnyville arose, Dave was a huge pillar of support on the Ag Society Board to the original Bonnyville Chuckwagon Committee.
At the same time, Dave served as the publisher for the Bonnyville Nouvelle newspaper from 2005 to 2009. To celebrate the first Bonnyville Chuckwagon Races in 2008, Dave authorized a 20 page full color supplement to the paper. He enlisted the services of future WPCA President Ed Wittchen to write featured articles about a variety of topics about wagon racing including rules, explaining the intricacies and insiders views of wagon races and descriptions of the history of wagon racing. It also had articles about prominent families in the history of wagon racing and featured an article on the local legends of the sport.
Thousands of copies of the supplement went out in the area, again creating a knowledge base that was not there before and creating a whole new group of fans while at the same time keeping the veteran fan informed. Dave and Nouvelle Editor Nicole Garner both supported the development of the supplement taking it from an original idea of 10-12 pages with 4 or 5 articles to the full 20 page edition people eventually received. Copies of the supplement were distributed far beyond the borders of the Bonnyville area as drivers and wagon personnel received copies and several asked for additional copies to give to friends and family in other places.
During his time as Publisher of the Bonnyville Nouvelle, Dave set a precedent that the WPCA Pro Tour would always be a staple of the newspaper long after he left his role as Publisher. Dave continued to be a fan of chuckwagon racing right up to his recent passing.
David will be forever missed by his loving wife, Gloria; and his children and step-children, Marlie, Trina (Richard), Chris, Kelly, and Jason. He loved and was proud of his beautiful grand-children, Matthew, Nathan, Aaron, Zoe, Logan, and Brianna. He will be missed by his siblings, Brenda, Coral (Remy), Don (Wendy), John (Carmen), Maureen; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, dear friends, and extended family.
He was predeceased by his father, Don; mother, Irene; and nieces, Dawn-Marie and Kira.
He leaves us with many beautiful and joyful memories where so many of them included him playing his guitar and singing for us. He was a one-of-a-kind man who left an impression on everyone he ever interacted with. He will forever be in our hearts!
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bonnyville SPCA.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Summer 2023, date, time, and location to be determined. Family and friends will be notified.
Dave will be missed by all in the WPCA and we extend our sincere condolences to the Hutton family.
Billy Melville
