Hettinger Named Outstanding Alumnus (10/02/07)
Although he's a great storyteller Dale Hettinger '64 is not comfortable talking about himself or his accomplishments. A banker for 40 years, he says, "Nobody hates debt more than me." He spends hours creating wooden toys and gives them away. Hettinger a devoted theatre patron, proclaiming he has none of "that kind of talent."
His colleagues consider him a friend, and his wife, Beverly, said she was initially attracted to him because he is dependable and principled. "He was great with my then ten-year-old daughter."
His myriad of contributions to Adams State College and the greater community helped Hettinger earn Adams State's 2007 Alumnus of the Year Award.
President of the Alumni Association, Toney Cantu '70, said: "Dale is an advocate for higher education. He supports Adams State through scholarships and donations to the Theatre Department, the Grizzly Club, and Semillas de la Tierra."
A senior vice president at the SLV Federal Bank, Cantu worked with Hettinger for 25 years.
As a young man, Dale Hettinger '64 was sure of his professional goal. He was going to attend Colorado University and earn a degree in pharmacy. From humble beginnings, Hettinger's practical personality chose Adams State College to launch his dreams.
"After two years taking science classes I applied to CU," Hettinger said. "I realized I could not afford an education at the large university and switched my major to business administration, with a minor in mathematics and chemistry."
As his senior year drew to a close, Hettinger, again, was confident of his near future. He signed up for Officer's Candidate School in the Air Force. "The draft was certain for young men at that time because of the Vietnam War." One week before graduation, he received his rejection notice due to poor eyesight.
"I was a little panicked," Hettinger said. "I was very close to graduation and didn't have a job lined up." But, his future was to be secured for the next 40 years.
"I heard the San Luis Valley Federal Bank (then known as the SVL Federal Savings and Loan), was hiring," Hettinger said. He started as Bob Foote's (president of the institution) assistant and after 35 years, he became the bank president, five years before retirement. "I joke that it took me thirty-five years to earn a promotion."
At the time, the bank was located in a small downtown building in Alamosa, with $7 million in assets and five employees. "At the time I retired, SLV Federal had fifty-five employees and $150 million in assets," Hettinger said.
Hettinger remained satisfied in his single professional role, and has a private life is as rich as any bank's, but the dividends are different. He and Beverly are avid patrons of the Adams State College Theatre and the Creede Repertory Theatre. Their love of the outdoors has taken them throughout the United States visiting state parks to pursue their interests, including hiking, bicycling, kayaking, and skiing.
"Dale is my best friend," Beverly Hettinger said. "We share the same appreciation for nature. It renews our souls."
"We do everything together," Hettinger said. "But she stays out of my garage and I stay out of her sewing room."
Hettinger enjoys working with his hands. His lifelong hobby is working with wood. He has coupled that with his philanthropic nature to donate all his woodworking projects to the Adams State Theatre Department, which sells the wooden toys to help fund theatre scholarships.
Dr. Paul Newman, program coordinator of Theatre, said: "Dale and Beverly Hettinger have not only been financial supporters and ardent patrons of ASC Theatre, they have also become wonderful friends of the faculty and the students who graduate from our program. They have been instrumental in helping us establish and grow our theatre scholarship."
Watching the growth of the college and the theatre department has been very satisfying for Hettinger. "I believe, because of the quality of the theatre program, it is an opportunity for growth in student enrollment."
He said the Adams State production of A Christmas Carole was one of his favorites. "The student who played Scrooge (Brent Long '05) blew me away."
The many service organizations Hettinger has been involved with include Optimist Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce Organization, and the Alamosa Community Development Corporation. He also served on the Alamosa City Council. "I have been involved in a lot of fundraisers."
"Dale has always been very supportive of Adams State College and the community," Cantu said. "It was his idea to initiate the 'Spirit of Giving' at our bank. Historically, the bank gave customers holiday gifts in December. Rather than buy little platters or pens, Hettinger thought it would be nice to let the customers vote on where the money should be spent.
Now we let our customers vote, one vote per account, on which nonprofits to donate money too," Cantu said. "We've divided twenty-five thousand dollars among many valley agencies, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Boy Scouts."
Hettinger also initiated the bank's sponsorship of the Alamosa Fourth of July fireworks display eleven years ago.
Duane Bussey '82, president of SLV Federal Bank, feels privileges to have worked with Dale for 20 years. "I developed a tremendous respect for him during that time for his clear thinking and his open style of communication," Bussey said. "He had that rare ability to be your boss and your friend. He is one of best story tellers I've ever known."
Both Bussey and Cantu agree Hettinger supports his community to benefit others, not self-gratification.
"Dale is also a very humble guy who taught me as much about life as he did about banking," Bussey said. "He was always more about the success of the bank than himself. We're grateful he's stayed on our board, as we still get to take advantage of his years of experience in banking and his sound business judgment."
"In the years I worked with Dale, I came to realize he never did service projects for recognition," Cantu said. "He was instrumental in getting things done, but he preferred to stay in the background."
Dr. Thomas Gilmore '67 '68, emeritus professor of business, serves on the SLV Federal Bank's Board of Directors. He said: "Dale's life and career have the ingredients Adams State has always celebrated. He achieved the highest personal success in his career, he was a leader that helped his community thrive and be a better place to live, and he was always a staunch supporter of his alma mater."
Besides community service, Hettinger has also built two houses. The one he is currently living in he built from scratch. "I hired the foundation pour, the rest I did myself," Hettinger said. True to his modest self, Hettinger claims designing the blue prints and building a house is, "no big deal, just common sense."
While out on their travels, Hettinger says he is always amazed on how many people he meets throughout the United States that have some connection with Adams State.
"I got to talking with a guy who was the director of a West Virginian state park," he said. "He was a graduate from Adams State. He said he played golf with Chuck Owsley during his college days."
"Dale does a lot of traveling," Cantu said. "With his gift of story-telling and friendly manner, he is a great ambassador for Adams State."
"Given his support of Adams State, his community service, and his personal success, he's a great choice for outstanding alumnus," Bussey said.
