Obituary: Chadwick, Ronald Milton
Age 83
Born to Bus and Fern Chadwick on July 5, 1931 in LaGrande, OR.
After the family moved to Emmett, ID in 1945, Ron quickly began to build the legend of the “Emmett Flash”.
In high school Ron was a multi-sport athlete excelling in football, basketball and track.
On more than one occasion Ron tallied enough points, individually, to lead his team to victories in track.
Ron was recruited to several northwest colleges and ultimately accepted an athletic scholarship to the Northern Idaho College of Education (NICE) in Lewiston.
A closure of NICE led Ron to the University of Utah on a football scholarship.
Although his blazing speed was valued on the field his 160-pound frame was taking a pounding as tight end for the Utes.
Ron announced his intentions to seek other schools for his athletic future and a recruiting war began between several northwest colleges.
Newspaper articles from the time refer to “Eastern Washington College of Education (EWU) at Cheney in a dither” to recruit the “one-man athletic squad” from Emmett.
Ron ultimately selected EWU and focused his energies on track and football.
While at EWU Ron competed in high jump, low hurdles, high hurdles, javelin, shot put and broad jump.
Ron’s times and distances were compared to the great Bob Mathias, US Olympian, as Ron’s results were superior to Mathias in several events.
As a running back in football Ron lettered three years for EWU.
In 1999 Ron was enshrined in the EWU Hall of Fame.
While in college Ron met the love of his life, Mary.
They married in 1953 and they embarked on Ron’s military service in the Army.
Upon his discharge from the Army, Ron and Mary returned to Spokane where Ron remained close to athletics working at Simchuk’s Sporting Goods, then Spokane Athletic Supply, for nearly 40 years.
Winters were spent at the ski shop at Mt.
Spokane and summers were spent chasing fish on Pend Oreille then Loon Lake with his grandchildren.
Family vacations included annual treks to Reno in search of the elusive loose slots.
Ron cherished his long time relationships with all the coaches he worked with.
He always looked forward to the Monday golf game with “the boys”.
His parents, Bus and Fern and his wife, Mary, preceded Ron in death.
He is survived by his daughter Vicki (Tim) Chervenak; son Ron (Laurie) Chadwick; sisters Darcia Goodwin, Terry Vaughn, Sue (Dennis) White; grandchildren Melissa (Franco), Sarah (Spencer), Emily (Nathan), Will (Krista) and seven great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held this spring.
The family would like to thank all of Ron’s caregivers, particularly Hospice of Spokane.
The family suggests memorials be made to Hospice of Spokane at hospiceofspokane.org.
Online guestbook at www.riplingerfuneralhome.com.