Richard L. Palke

Mike Palmquist

198w ago

in honor of Richard.

I remember playing football with Dick on the 1963 Richfield State Championship Football Team. Dick was a roving linebacker that we called the Monster Man. It was his job to stop the other teams best running back or take away their biggest threat. He did his job well. He was also a good friend and a great guy. I lost track of Dick a number of years ago but we reconnected at our football teams 45th Anniversary in October 2008. We became friends on Facebook in April 2011. Since then we kept in touch pretty much on a weekly basis. RIP my teammate and friend.

A lit candle with a soft flame, surrounded by small white flowers and green leaves, set against a warm yellow background.

Jim Hicks

199w ago

Oh, I have so many stories about Dick! First of all, we shared the stage at the Grand Ol' Opry Ryman Auditorium! Also, Dick and I had lunch with Tommy Lasorda while Tommy was on his infamous diet. Dick and I ordered big steaks and baked potatoes, and so did Tommy after listening to us.

Also, Dick and I were at a big meeting with IBM in Raleigh. As the meeting started, Dick got up and opened his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill and passed it on to me. Eight IBM employees seemed puzzled about his timing. We told them we had a bet IBM would provide doughnuts for this meeting...no doughnuts and they tried for 2 hours to find doughnuts at the Research Triangle facility. That was a great win for us!!!

One time we learned an IBM employee was going to try to access our secure building in Mexico. We warned the guards to pin him and cuff him to a tree!! They did, and we still had our contract with IBM.

Some of you know that in our later years, my wife and I started a Seasonings business in Tucson, Arizona. Dick was a big contributor to our entire line of seasonings and provided some great recipes. If you wish, go to Orovalleygold.com and click on the Chef Palke tab!!