Dwight ‘Bud? Spiker’s day job was with General Motors, but the rest of him belonged to Clarkston.
Spiker, who passed away March 6 at the age of 70, helped organize community events such as Clarkston’s Fourth of July parades, Little League baseball and Chiefs football teams.
He volunteered with Clarkston’s Athletic Boosters Association for more than 22 years. He risked his life to help his neighbors for 18 years as an on-call firefighter with Independence Township Fire Department.
‘He jumped right in. He was always first on scene and the last to leave,? said his wife, Joanne Spiker.
He organized pancake breakfasts, craft shows, county-wide track meets with more than 100 teams competing, all while helping to raise two children.
‘That’s how he was,? Joanne said. ‘He was a phenomenal man. He never wanted credit for anything.?
He was instrumental in raising funds and volunteer help in constructing the sports building at Clarkston Junior High School.
‘They put on the roof themselves, and all they wanted was a case of beer,? Joanne said.
Clarkston’s boosters all work hard to make sports successful ? Dwight was key to the effort, said Dan Fife, athletic director at Clarkston High School.
‘If we needed anything, we’d go to Dwight and he’d get it done,? Fife said. ‘He never asked for anything in return. He just found a way to get it done.?
He helped build Clarkston’s sports program from scratch, Joanne said.
‘The sports program (in the 1970s) wasn’t what it is now,? she said.
Boosters collected bottles and cans for extra money, and cooked lots of hot dogs and popcorn, she said.
‘Until last year, he was always cooking hot dogs,? she said.
‘Dwight was just a good person,? Fife said. ‘He was here to help people ? he was always at the end of the gym ? when you walked in and saw him there, you always felt safe.?
Memorials may be made to Clarkston SCAMP. Online guest book is available at www.wintfuneralhome.com.