The Sunday Chieftain
WWW.CHIEFTAIN.COM
SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2014
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HOMETOWN HEROES
Staying in the game SUE SMITH
Guest columnist
The following is the next in a series of profiles entitled “Hometown Heroes,” which will feature selected stories about average people who make extraordinary contributions to their community. The series is made possible by the Center for American Values in Pueblo.
D
ave Feamster always looked forward to the winter months when his father would flood the backyard to create a hockey rink for him, his brothers and the neighborhood kids. He was the youngest and smallest player, but he loved the game so much that he didn’t care if he was picked last. He just wanted to be in the game. Unfortunately, last picked always ended up in the net, which was the one position none of the kids wanted. Being the goalie meant no protective padding. Many times Dave would limp into the house with his knees bleeding and elbows scraped, determined not to let the tears in his eyes spill over. His mother would sit him in a chair, gently clean his wounds, apply a Band-aid or two, and then send her young son back out to the ice. Her mother’s heart ached for him, and she longed to wrap her arms around him to take the hurt away. But when it came to hockey, and to life, she provided an important piece of advice that ricocheted like a hockey puck in Dave’s mind over the years. Even if you’re picked last, even if they don’t want you on their team, even when you’re hurt and ready to give up, she said, “Don’t ever let anyone take you out of the game!” Dave’s mom died when he was just 15 years old. She was hit by a car, leaving behind a family that struggled to make sense of the tragedy that robbed them of a loving wife and mother. Dave experienced a great deal of anxiety, sadness and anger as a result, but decided to follow his mother’s advice and stay in the game. He was a kid with a lot of energy and fire, but learned early on to channel that energy in to something he loved — the game of hockey. It became a release from the turmoil and emotions warring inside him, without the negative consequences of more destructive behaviors. Growing up in Detroit, he knew there were plenty of opportunities to lose himself in a drug-induced haze or in the company of local gang
From the international limelight to the heating lamps at Little Caesars Pizza, Dave Feamster is an all-star. His has allowed us to be part of his journey, serving as a champion for our town and a hero to young and old alike. This man of character and integrity may not have been born in Pueblo, but he embodies all that this community stands for. Dave credits the book, “After the Applause,” with helping him find perspective after leaving the NHL. While we’re glad that’s the case, we hope he knows that we never stopped clapping. The town of Pueblo applauds you, Dave, and is glad to have you in the game with us. Sue Smith is the president of the Center for American Values board of directors.
The road that led Dave Feamster to Pueblo wasn’t always an easy one, but he never let anyone put him on the bench. members, but Dave always knew there was something better for him out there. The road that led Dave Feamster to Pueblo wasn’t always an easy one, but he never let anyone put him on the bench. When he talks to local kids about his experiences, or serves as a mentor and coach to the young players in the Dave Feamster Youth Hockey Camp that he sponsors each year, he can relate to much of what they are going through. And yet most of us only see him as a former National Hockey League defenseman who played four seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks, or the charismatic entrepreneur who owns five Little Caesars pizzerias in our hometown. The reality is that he wears a variety of hats, and helps many people and organizations within our community. He’s always there to lend a helping hand and to share his trademark, infectious grin. However, his easy rapport and genuine interaction with people is not by accident. He learned from one of the best. Dave’s father was a paper products salesman who taught him to look people in the eye and shake their hand firmly when he met them. He often included his young son on his sales calls, always proud to introduce Dave to his clients. By watching his father, and gaining an even greater understanding as an employer years later, Dave realized that the world needs more than just “70 percenters.” His biggest challenge to the kids he counsels is to do more than just show up. He guarantees that if you bring 100 percent to the table, great things will happen. As a 17-year-old junior in high school, Dave stood out. Because of his commitment and discipline, he set himself apart on the ice. He was an All-American during his athletic scholarship to Colorado College, and later became a defenseman picked by the Chicago Black Hawks in the college draft. During his first three years on the team, the Black Hawks often found himself face to face with many hockey greats on the ice. Just as he reached the pinnacle of success as a professional hockey player, a fateful hit from behind during a game against the Minnesota North Stars caused an injury that ended his hockey career. He fought desperately to stay in the game, even as his body rebelled and his dreams slowly died.
COURTESY PHOTO
Dave Feamster, in a photograph from 2008, is shown with his son, Joe. Joe had just scored his very first goal and Dave Feamster picked him up for a victory lap.
Realizing the importance of preserving his health, Dave began to move toward a future that no longer included professional hockey. Using the business degree he earned at Colorado College, and a helping hand from the owners of the Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesars Pizza, Dave launched a string of pizzerias in Southern Colorado. fairy tales are made of, but many important lessons can be learned from his experiences. The son of a fatherless father can teach us about the incredible power of mentoring. The pastor that mentored Dave’s dad in the absence of his biological father played a critical role in the shaping of this local hero’s life decades later. The sage advice of a loving mother who challenged her son to never give up teaches us to persevere and to be the master of our own fate. And that defining moment when Dave accompanied a friend recovering from addiction to a prison ministry service in Texas where he was struck by the statement that, “Real men stand up in the light and tell the truth.” He knew that was the kind of man he wanted to be. From that point on, his strong faith equipped him with compassion and a deep desire to help others, which is something he’s been doing most of his life.
The incredible highs and bitterly disappointing lows of Dave’s life have fashioned the man we see standing behind the Little Caesars counter. The smile on his face as he shares the story of being in over his head in college — socially, academically and economically — doesn’t fade as he tries to help the wayward student. Eyeing this self-made, successful businessman who gives all the credit to his family and his God, you wouldn’t believe that he showed up at Colorado College in a $25 car, a $99 suit, and one small suitcase that held all of his belongings. Never one to give up, he says with a smile, “I didn’t know any better. I thought I had the world at my feet.” And he did. The list of local organizations that have benefitted from Dave’s kindness and generosity over the years is a lengthy one. Yet he asks for nothing in return, except maybe a hug. He mentors and employs Pueblo teens, demonstrating the attributes of a true leader. He coaches hockey, including the team his own sons play on. He shares the lessons of teamwork and sportsmanship. He shows everyone how to deal with rejection and disappointment, using grace and humor, and reminds each person that something better is out there if you’re willing to work for it.