Excerpts from the MC, Brian Larter’s remarks at Dalt Hicks Roast in 2012 attended by more than 600 friends of the Aggregate Industry, Golf Community, family and his many friends Dalt developed throughout his journey.
A little background about Dalt;
In 1946, he borrowed his dad’s tractor to help plow some ½ nearby half-acre lots. He loved this so much and realized he could make a buck at it, bought another tractor, then a truck and began hauling gravel. In school, in his yearbook, the other kids voted him “the person most likely to succeed”.
Growing up in Willowdale, Dalt started working at a gravel pit, then went on to own it with others in the Gormley Greens area. The company was called Gormley Sand and Gravel. Many say Dalt had great vision. He eventually bought his partner out, but DIDN’T do the math as he quickly ran out of inventory. Apparently, the same day? So much for vision. I ask you, how do you run out of sand and gravel inventory???
Well he finally figured it out and eventually his gravel business picked up, bought 600 acres and started a quarry business. Later, he joined forces with his partner with Craig Moyer, who could actually do something with math. Dalt had learned the operations end, improving production and operations. The two partners were inseparable.
But as they bought more things, more land and more businesses, interest rates were climbing to about 21%. You remember the early 80’s? What a tough time to borrow money.
So Dalt decided it would be best to get into a new business. Something more fun! He had his eye on about 250 acres and wanted to build a golf course in King Township. The farmer who owned the land wasn’t quite ready to sell, but Dalt with all his charm, wore the fellow down, and soon Cardinal Golf Course on Davis Drive West at Jane got its beginning.
There was a lot of hard work done by Dalt and his team, now teamed up with his right hand man and Managing Director Bob Kilgour. They soon built 18 holes, then 27 holes, then 36, then 54…And then after many years of working through the challenges of creating new golf facilities these day, opened RedCrest in 2009.
Today, Cardinal is Canada’s largest golf facility. A total of 72 holes including the new RedCrest. What’s that Dalt? Cardinal is 90 holes??? Oh yes, there are 18 holes of mini putt.
Dalt was asked the other day why he built the mini putt and said, when the plane crashed he figured he could get a deal on the aircraft now that it would never fly again, so he built another 18 holes of mini put around it and like Dalt, turned it into a destination as well.
Dalt Hicks has been a strong supporter of the game on golf in Canada. He has been a front and center member of the NGCOA, the National Golf Course Owner’s Association for years and pioneered many on course changes that are standard operating procedures today.
Our next presenter is a member of the Pulpit, a great golf course west of here.
Dalt met Gary Smith many years ago and they went to TRYALL together and eventually bought a place called Sea Spray together right on the ocean. Now I have to ask this question. Put up your hand if you have been to Dalt’s place in Jamaica? Dalt has made a week at Sea Spray a very important auction item at the Mayors Golf Tournament in King Township every year since the first tournament. The auction price has averaged $5000 every year to significantly boost the cause celebrated each year.
While Dalt has always been known as a smart businessman, he has never let his business mind get in the way of his heart. Dalt has been giving back to his community since the Willowdale Days starting with the Kinsman Club. Served on the Arena board for 9 years in Richmond Hill, he was also a member of the York County Hospital board for 15 years. All Dalt ever wanted in return was to help people get better. An easy thing to say, but a very hard thing to do.
Later Dalt joined the Board at York Central Hospital and was part of the team to raise 35 million dollars from the community. And I know he wouldn’t want me to say how much he donated, but you’ve read the stories. You know it is a big number. There is no question he has made a difference to Southlake.
In preparation for tonight’s celebration, I asked him why giving, helping, sponsoring so many events was part of his DNA? He replied, you know Ottawa takes a hefty amount from us, so it is our job to spread a little back in the community. How simple, but true is that?
Behind every great man, there is often a greater family. Dalt’s wife Shirley, married now 60 years! And so supportive of Dalt. Wow!. And Dalt’s two daughters Kathryn and Kelly, both who grew up at Cardinal. (wave!) And Dalt is so proud of his grand children, some who have worked at Cardinal and those off to school. What a great family.
Dalt wanted me to thank a few people before we leave tonight. Once again, thank you to the volunteer committee for doing such a great job, Don Peart, Don’s assistant Nicole, Gord Brown, Bob Kilgour, Dunc Brown and Dalt’s daughters Kathryn and Kelly for the video reel… And Let’s here it for the staff at Le Parc-thanks everyone!
Written by: Gary Vogan/Brian Larter
