Dale has been involved in ballooning since 1982, after watching the World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Battle Creek the previous year. He got his first balloon in 1987 and has flown in a multitude of events in Michigan and around the Midwest. He competes just for fun and has racked up several first place wins and lots of top tens in his ballooning career. Dale’s favorite ballooning experience was doing a splash and dash in the Rio Grande at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival with Pat Rolfe’s “Cynthia Seal”. 

Dale is retired from AT&T and now “works” for his wife doing chores for her miniature horses. He also enjoys volunteering at the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center and helping with the Mini Whinnies 4-H Club.