With others in Advocates Group, helped save Community College in the Verde Valley from perceived shuttering of Sedona Center; losing nursing programs, and dropping many other educational offerings
Dick Dahl 1937 – 2021
Dick Dahl, a gentle, tireless, humble but effective advocate as a member of the Verde Valley Community College Citizens Advocates group passed away January 11 at age 83 from Covid-19. Dick began with the advocates back in 2013 when the group was first organized. The Advocates, from areas throughout the entire Verde Valley, had joined hands in response to perceived efforts by the Yavapai Community College administration to shutter the Sedona Center and reduce or drop many programs being offered at the Verde Campus in Clarkdale, including nursing.
He often spoke to members of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board in opposition to the unfairness of decisions that he and the Advocates believed were adversely affecting the future of education in the Verde Valley. He was an opponent, for example, of the District Governing Board’s December 2013 decision to spend $103.5 million on a ten-year-development program, with around 95% of the development slated for the Prescott Campus and the Prescott side of the County. Five percent or less of the plan was scheduled for development in the Verde Valley.
His wisdom, gentle advocacy and patience are in part, along with his many advocate colleagues, the reason the Sedona Center was not sold; the nursing program is in full swing on the Verde Campus, and a CTEC facility is being constructed right now.
He will be missed by everyone in the Verde Valley, but especially the members of the Advocates group.
Bob Oliphant
Below is an article written by Ron Eland about Dick that appeared in the January 27, 2021 edition of the Sedona Red Rock newspaper (See http://www.redrocknews.com/2021/01/27/remembering-the-late-dick-dahl/).
Remembering the late Dick Dahl, By Ron Eland, January 27, 2021.
For more than 40 years, Dick Dahl served the residents of Sedona by way of both as a Realtor and a member of a variety of organizations throughout the Verde Valley.
Dahl died Jan. 11. He was 83.
“Myself and many, many others are grieving the loss of my brother,” Joyce Partain said. “We were just at a point where we were able to spend some more time with each other. The far reaching influence of Dick Dahl has been enormous. I’ve heard it said most people are lucky to be able to count on one hand the number of lifelong best friends. My brother’s are too numerous to count.”
Dahl was born in Denver and was the oldest of four children. The family moved to Arizona in 1955 where he earned a degree in elementary education and served as teacher or school headmaster for nearly two decades.
In 1978 he began his career in real estate before moving to Sedona two years later. By 1983 he purchased a Century 21 franchise and would later have four additional branches.
For 38 years Dahl used his real estate background and knowledge to serve as an instructor for the Best School of Real Estate. He also served as an expert witness for civil lawsuits involving real estate transactions.
According to Partain and the Veteran Equine Therapeutic Alliance, of which he was a member, Dahl was very civic minded and served in a variety of capacities in local organizations. Some of these include serving on the Sedona Chamber of Commerce board for eight years; four years on the Sedona Planning and Zoning Commission, of which he was chairman for two years; an appointed representative on the Board of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Development Council and its president; and the Arizona Governor’s Small Business Executive Council in 1990, where he served for eight years.
“Dick was a long-time friend and dedicated volunteer with many local nonprofits in the Verde Valley,” Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty said. “I had not seen him for over a year, and wasn’t sure that he was still in the community. I was very sorry to hear of his passing due to COVID-19, he will be missed.”
In addition, Dahl served as the founding president of the Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute and remained a member of the board. Steve Estes, the current president of that organization, said Dahl’s death is being felt by all those he worked with over the years.
“Dick was a key figure in Arizona Town Hall events,” he said. “The 2004 Verde Valley Forum, addressing economic sustainability and diversity was one of those. The Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute was conceived and formed in response to the forum’s focus on open space in the Verde Valley as a critical asset both aesthetically and economically.
“Dick Dahl led the effort to form the nonprofit and act as the first president and perennial board director of VVLPI, one of the region’s most productive nonprofits.”