Richard “Dick” Wilberforce, a local veteran and member of Canadian’s American Legion Post 56, was honored at the Tri-State Rodeo this Saturday, Sept. 24, in Amarillo.

Each year, the Tri-State Rodeo selects a veteran to honor at the final rodeo performance. This year’s presentation was held at 7 pm Saturday evening, and was attended by several family members, as well as friends and fellow Legionaires.

Wilberforce is widely known as an author, wildlife photographer, and an expert on the lesser prairie-chicken. He has also trained hunting dogs and race horses.

Less well-known is his service to his country. Wilberforce was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952. Following basic training, his previous experience with dogs and horses led the Army to assign him to its only stateside dog-training center at Fort Carson, Colorado. There, he honed his dog training skills and became one of five trainees assigned to the Army’s European dog-training center in Lenggries, Germany.

While stationed in Germany, Wilberforce trained man-and-dog teams that were then deployed to other parts of the world. The teams he helped train patrolled along the border that separated Communist-bloc countries from Western countries. He also trained teams that patrolled the DMZ separating North and South Korea. These man-and-dog teams worked to defend against snipers and infiltrators. They guarded airstrips and military installations and were also used to stop the smuggling of drugs and other contraband.

After his tour of duty ended, Wilberforce returned home and married. He and his wife, Geri, moved to Amarillo, where he continued training dogs both for hunters and for the Amarillo and Pampa police departments.

Wilberforce is the perfect example of the “citizen-soldier” who has helped make America the country it is today. He didn’t bring home lots of medals, and he wasn’t a “Hollywood Hero.” Like thousands of other men and women, when called, he stopped what he was doing, put on a uniform, and did the job he was assigned in the best way he could. The members of American Legion Post 56 are proud of Wilberforce and delighted to see him honored for his service.