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David Allan Snell
May 28, 1946 - October 13, 2024
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of David Allan Snell, born in New York, New York, who passed away on October 13, 2024, at the age of 78, leaving to mourn family and friends.
As we bid David Allan farewell, let us not mourn the absence of his physical form, but rather celebrate the essence of his spirit that lingers in the spaces between moments. For David Allan is not truly gone, but merely transformed, his energy intertwined with the fabric of the universe itself, forever dancing among the stars.
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Steve Frederickson
I first met Dave at Puget Sound Junior High, and we remained good friends through our graduation from Highline in 1964. In early 1963 I got caught up in the Fitness Program sponsored by President John F, Kennedy. The call for having fit youth in America started in the Eihenhower administration when he founded the President's Council on Youth Fitness in 1956. However, the program never got off the ground and Eisenhower lost interest. When Kennedy got elected in 1960 he wa already committed to improving the nation's fitness. One of the challenges that came out of the Kennedy fitness program was the 50 mile hike. In 1962, Kennedy discovered an executive order from Theodore Roosevelt challenging U.S. Marine officers ti finish 50 miles in 20 hours. Robert Kennedy, JFK's brother and the U.S. Attorney General, undertook the hike clad in leather Oxford shoes, and completed the full distance.
The general public took up the challenge, and it wasn't long before hundreds of Americans of all ages could be seen hiking the byways of America. As a distance runner, I was immediately determined to do the hkie. I was still in good shape from the fall Cross-Country team events, and I was ready to go. I just needed someone to go with me. The only person interested in coming along happened to David Snell. As I recall, Dave was a high-jumper and had probably never ran more than a mile in his life, but he was as determined as I was to finish the entire 50 miles.
To measure the course, I drove from my house along old Highway 99 all the way into Tacoma. I found a restaurant in East Tacoma that was about 25 miles away and headed back home.
Early the following Saturday,, I drove to Dave's house and picked him up. To my horror, he was wearing his street shoes! I was wearing my "tennis shoes" that at least afforded some cushioning. He seemed nonplussed and we headed back to my house to start. We stuffed our coat pockets with snacks, and I took my hoard of cash I earned bagging groceries at Albertson's. I had about $10.00.
As I recall, it was a fairly cold winter day. I was wearing jeans and my Highline letterman's coat, and Dave was clad in a warm coat and slacks. I added hats and gloves from a collection in my garage. I had no idea on how long this was going to take, but I was sure we could break the 20 hour limit.
I don't recall many of the details other than we were totally unprepared. By the time we got to the restaurant in Tacoma we were both footsore and famished. I spent most of the money I brought on hamburgers, fries and shakes. The return from Tacoma was endless. At no time during the day or night (we finished well after dark) did David make any complaint or indicate he wanted to quit. He made some comments about his blistered feet, but that was it. I recall it took us about 16 hours to finish the distance. I hope this story tells you about the character of this man.
I lost track of Dave after high school, but I heard through our mutual friend Tom Bourdage that he was an MP in the Army. The last time I saw him was in downtown Seattle long after our military days were ended. I was in town to get a visa to travel to Guatemala, and he was working as a security guard in the building. He told me he was trying to get on with the King County Sherriff's Department. Law enforcement jobs were hard to come by at that time. I had tried to get on with the Kansas City Police Department when I got out of he Marines, but I was rejected due to my near-sightedness. The next time ti head from Dave was via email from Hawaii.
I have seen the names of many classmates who have passed on during the past few years. Some of these people I knew, and some I did not. It was a shock to see David's name in the memory email. He was a close friend for only a short time, but I have never forgotten him.
Rest essy brother. The hike is over.
Bill Engelhardt
A thoughtful and entertaining tribute to Dave.
In wrapping up your story about the years-ago odyssey to and from Tacoma, I particularly liked what you said about him: "I hope this story tells you about the character of this man."
As we would say in the Corps, Steve, well done.
Bill