By Corey Perry
(photo credit also to Corey)
Alberta lost a living legend in the dog trialing world when Stormy Winters passed away peacefully in Calgary on April 9th at the age of 82 years old.
Stormy was as unique a character as they come. He was liked by many, but disliked by some as well, due to his lack of filter, his bluntness, his brashness and also his truthfulness. Stormy lived life to the fullest. In the 30 years I’d known him, I never saw him have a bad day, except perhaps when he was at the post… Stormy had been competing and attending trials for upwards of 40 years, long before I started. Stormy knew everyone and no matter where he went people seemed to know him.
In his early days, Stormy was a rodeo guy. He and Dale Montgomery would travel extensively throughout Saskatchewan and southern Alberta, travelling to and from Rodeos. For several years Stormy worked at the racetrack and worked for the famous cutting horse trainer and Canadian Calf Roping Champion Bill Collins.
During the time I’d known Stormy he wore out 3 motor homes travelling to and from trials. His 1st and most famous motorhome was “the pug” It travelled thousands of miles carrying Stormy and many of his fellow trialing companions (Scott, Milt, Shawn, Dale and Ken to name a few and many others I’ve missed) to and from trials. From the instant Stormy and the Pug showed up at a trial the Pug was the hub of activity. People would pop into the Pug day or night perhaps for a beer or a drink, or just to say hi or a visit if you could handle cigarette smoke. Everyone seemed to smoke in those days. From what I’m told the Pug had no rules.
Stormy was always quick to give his humble opinion of someone’s run whether you wanted it or not. Some of his sayings were the following: “You and your dog ran like a wooden watch’’ or "You can’t make chicken soup out of chicken s..t” When I’d call him he’d often answer the phone with " What’s happening boy?" Or he’d remark about someone at a trial with “ I haven’t heard from him today. He must not have done well. If he had, he’d be phoning to tell me." When he was lying in a hospital bed for months waiting for a new hip, he would say “ I’m lying here like a boneless chicken’’. He was a glass half full kinda guy.
Stormy was also famous for his coffee. Stormy really liked his coffee and there was always a large pot of strong hot coffee, which had been brewing for days. One of Stormy’s famous sayings was " Don't waste the water when making a pot of coffee” . I like my coffee with a dab of cream, sugar or French vanilla. Never once did I have the courage to ask for any of that. If I had he would have told me "that stuff’s for sissies". I didn’t want Storm to think I was a sissy. So I chose black and nothing but when drinking Stormy’s coffee. Their famous Spaghetti omelets he and his wife made at most trials are worth writing about as well. Stormy and his lovely wife Pat were gracious hosts whether it was at a trial or at their home.
Stormy loved trialing. He particularly liked the challenging Meeker trial. By far, Meeker was his favorite. Meeker had a special parking Spot for Stormy and his motorhome for decades until he quit showing up a few years ago. Stormy and his good dog Roy made the Meeker final 6 years in a row. He’d be the first to tell you: He never won because he couldn’t shed. He was honest. Whether at Meeker or at a small local trial Stormy watched every run, whether it was in the bleachers, sitting in his folding chair or sitting on his Polaris Ranger side by side. When we bought a side by side, we decided to get a Polaris because Stormy had had so much success with his and proved they required no maintenance whatsoever. One time years ago, Motorhome number 2 had a low transmission oil light come on. Stormy called me to ask to grab him some oil so when I showed up I asked him where the transmission was. He replied: ‘I don’t even know where the engine is”. That was Stormy.
I was travelling with Milt to the Rapid City trial one February, and Stormy would call us throughout our round trip.” Have you gotten to Great Falls yet?” “You must be close to Billings”. “Are you close to Sheridan”? "Are you getting close to Dennis’s yet?" (Edwards). Etc. etc. It was like he was tracking us on a GPS. He’d travelled on most of those same highways countless times and knew every town along the way. After one conversation with Stormy on that trip, Milt stated "maybe we should have brought Stormy with us". Yes, we should have. Looking back, he certainly would have enjoyed that trip.
Stormy had an amazing memory. He loved watching sports, live streaming trials, and watching the cowboy channel and horse events on Youtube and of course U.S. politics. He followed the Breeders Cup, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. He enjoyed wagering. He was always enthusiastic at Meeker betting the Calcutta on the finals’ dogs.
Stormy had many interests. He loved life. He loved the horses and the dogs and good Chinese food as much as I. Most of all Stormy loved his lovely wife Pat. And Pat loved, fussed and spoiled Stormy. The love and care they had for each other was indeed special. They had been together for almost 50 years and were married in Dec 1983. In recent times before he passed, Stormy would mention to Pat “ If I would have known I’d live this long I would have looked after myself better’’ That was Stormy.
Stormy may be gone, but memories and thoughts and stories of Stormy will continue by the people who knew him. He truly was one of a kind.
Stormy Winters and Roy at Meeker