GERALD "DYKE" COWELL Weston, MI
Dyke was a long time member of the W.S.H.P.A. and was an avid horseshoe pitcher, He pitched in many district, State and national tournaments.He served on our state committees and was a delegate to the N.H.P.A. convention. Dyke was an ardent promoter of the game and he built 22 courts on his property in Weston. He had 18-40 foot courts and 4-30 foot courts. These courts cost approximately $2000.00 which he funded on his own. These courts were the second largest in the United States at the time only Keene N.H~ were larger with 24. Dyke built these courts in 1966 and he had a small restaurant there where the pitchers could eat and enjoy some fine coffee. Dyke hosted many district tournaments as well as the State championships in 1970. He hosted the Water Wonderland and the Midwest Ringer Roundup in the late sixties, where Danny Kuchcinski , defending World Champ won the Midwest at the age of 19.. Dyke attended the 1973 World tournament at Eureka California and won 2nd. place in the class C intermediate Group. Dyke was an 45-50 % average pitcher and won first place titles in his class. After Dyke was unable to utilize his courts, He knew that Adrian was forming the River Raisin Club, so he donated the clay, stakes, lights. cement slabs and benches to this club, so they could start the first nine courts. Later the River Raisin club bought the rest of the clay, stakes and slabs to finish their 12 courts. Because of Dykes generosity and promoting horseshoes in southern Michigan. He was inducted in to the W.S.H.P.A. Hall of Fame at the state tournament held in Adrian by the River Raisin club at the Lenawee county Fairgrounds. 1989. |