Dana Wales Burden |
| Posted 2009-07-17 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ March 1, 2006 A 1 & 2 Dana Burden loses his battle with cancer By Sophie Burden Echeverria and John Burden Our brother Dana Wales Burden, who died at home Friday (Feb. 24) of brain cancer, has taken flight and left us for "What dreams may come," to quote Shakespeare. What a man he was, and what a life he led! Gratitude overflows for having had him as a brother and friend. He was 72. A gathering to honor Dana -- one that he would love -- will take place Sunday (March 5) at 3:30 p.m. on the flat by Dana and John's house at the end of Jack Burden Road (there will be signs). Ed and Charlie Nasser of Charlie's Steakhouse will be cooking, and Carolyn Markham and others will sing. In lieu of flowers, Dana would be grateful if contributions were made to Wickenburg Clean and Beautiful, in his memory. Dana was born in Wickenburg on Sept. 23, 1933, to Jack and Sophie Burden. Growing up on Remuda Ranch, he attended the Ranch School until he transferred to the Little Red Schoolhouse, followed by Wickenburg High. The Army enlisted him to serve in Alaska during World War II. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Phoenix College in 1959 and a degree in Business Management from The University of Arizona. In 1993, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Ottawa University and worked as a counselor at the Meadows, where they awarded him recognition for dedicated service. In fact, Dana is one of the founders of the Recourse Foundation, which made treatment possible for addicts to seek rehabilitation. After Jack Burden's death in 1943, Dana and John helped Sophie operate Remuda until it was sold in 1968. Active in Desert Caballeros, Dana honed his remarkable ability to find and blaze trails for them through the desert he so loved. His book, Desert Hiking Out Wickenburg Way, describing just about every trail in the Wickenburg area, was recently published - followed by his new book "Where the Past Lives, Constellation Road." The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, founded by our dad, was Dana's career for eight years. He also served as the president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce Managers Association and was a Chamber of Commerce manager for seven years. The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce awarded him the Crown Royal for Outstanding Community Service. Later, the board of directors awarded him recognition of his "Dedication Beyond Normal Fulfillment of Duties," and he was awarded Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year. He also served as Sam Steiger's business and campaign manager in Washington, D.C. He and John eventually formed Adventure Trails, which afforded wonderful trips all across Arizona and into old Mexico by horseback or Jeep; several horseback trips through Australia's parks, and even one through Russia Our mother Sophie took us to Havasupai Canyon many summers as we grew up and it became a beloved place for Dana. He continued to guide groups to camp there until just last year -- more than 60 trips in all. He became a qualified Grand Canyon river guide and made 14 or 15 trips, twice in a Katarack canoe - making him the only person ever to have done that daring thing. Hiking groups followed him rim to rim, as did several horseback trips. He gave me, Sophie, two of the peak experiences of my life when he took me and some of my family roaring down the river for 18 glorious days. The other adventure was 16 days on horseback in Australia, (where The Man From Snowy River was filmed). A history buff, Dana knew everything about our state and shared his knowledge delightfully with many. As well as providing so very many of us with wonderful adventures, Dana served us well when he established Wickenburg Clean and Beautiful. Much of our area -- especially Box Canyon - has been rid of trash, and it was Dana's dream to make it better and better. Some of Dana's further accomplishments: Dallas Gant admitted Dana as a member of the Desert Caballeros in 1958. They honored him with "Pigeon of the Year" in 1977 and again in 1981. They also gave him the Silver Spur Award. He was Trail Boss for years, designing many of the spectacular early rides. Dana was awarded a plaque in 2005 for his outstanding performance in finding and developing trails: "Trail Blazer Extraordinaire." For our town, he created the first really good maps of the area. He left more than 100 topographical maps of every inch of our countryside, as well as aerial maps. Gov. Janet Napolitano awarded him the Governor's Office recognition as an Arizona Culture Keeper at a splendid event at the Kierland Resort in Scottsdale. Dana has remained a member of the Culture Keepers, and he nominated our own Jeri Robson and our good friend Suzie Yazzi from Monument Valley to be so honored this year. Nominating Suzie Yazzi was an outcome of Dana's (and brother John's) involvement with the Navajos over many years. They started the popular horseback rides into Monument Valley and got the Tribe involved in that form of tourism. They also ran rides into Canyon de Chelly, which the Indians now manage. Dana also has helped the Havasupai Tribe develop tourism into their beautiful canyon. Served as chairman of Gold Rush Days, the Gold Shirt Gang, and the Gold Rush Rodeo. He was active on the Hospital and D.C. Museum boards. He, along with Ken Hill's father, was instrumental in bringing Bear Cat Manufacturing to Wickenburg. National Rifle Association of American membership. State Land Department soil conservation appointed Dana supervisor of the Wickenburg district in 1968. Lettered in football at Wickenburg High School, 1948-49 Wickenburg's Horsemen's Association, 1983-84 Dana led innumerable small-party hiking and Jeep tours throughout our area, providing fun for so many. He relished good company, always believing it was more fun to take people along than to experience adventure alone. He blessed us. See Also: Find A Grave |
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