Dennis Virgil Spellecy ⁹⁴⁹⁸

   Cause of his death was pancreatic cancer.

The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington
Thursday, December 3, 1942
p. 8

Ellingson - Spellecy Union Announced

From Seattle has comes news of the marriage of Margaret Ellingson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Ellingson, N636 Denver, to Dennis Spellecy, seaman first class United States Navy, son of Mrs. Spellecy, E1713 Third.

The wedding took place November 28 in Seattle at the home of the bride's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Storaasli. The Rev. O.L. Haavik officiated at the ceremony.

The bride wore a blue wool street dress with accessories in darker blue. Her flowers were a corsage of gardenias. Mr. and Mrs. Storaasli were the attendants. Mrs. Ellingson went to Seattle for her daughter's wedding.

Before going into the navy, the bridegroom was with the sports department of The Spokesman-Review.

*****
The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington
Friday, October 9, 1998
p. C1

SPELLECY, 78, DIES OF CANCER ARDENT SPORTS ENTHUSIAST WAS KEY FIGURE IN GSSA

From sportswriter to nightclub manager and sports executive, from baseball to horse racing and civic activities, Denny Spellecy never strayed far from promoting sports in Spokane.

Spellecy, 78, died of pancreatic cancer early Thursday in Hood River, Ore., ending six decades as a sports booster and a lifetime as a baseball fan.

A memorial service has been scheduled in Spokane for 11 a.m. on Oct. 17 at Hazen & Jaeger's Funeral Home, 1306 N. Monroe.

During a varied career, Spellecy served as a messenger, copy boy, reporter and sports editor for The Spokesman-Review, business manager of Spokane Indians baseball teams in the Western International and Pacific Coast leagues, manager of various downtown nightspots, manager of the Spokane Elks Lodge and general manager of Playfair Race Course.

Along with longtime District 81 activities director George Werner, who died Sept. 6, Spellecy was instrumental in the formation of the Greater Spokane Sports Association and served as that organization's president. He also was a guiding light behind the Inland Empire Sports Awards Banquet, serving as chairman of the first eight banquets, starting in 1948, and at least two others. He was a past president of the Spokane Public Relations Council.

In 1969, he received a 25-year award from the Inland Empire Sports Writers and Broadcasters, and was later named to the Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame's Scroll of Honor.

''He was such a great guy, a guy you always loved to see'' said Joe Custer, a longtime associate on the GSSA and banquet committees. ''Denny made significant contributions to the community in so many ways and the minute he'd see you, he had always had a smile and a friendly word.''

Spellecy became hooked on baseball while growing up near Natatorium Park, where he gained free admission by carrying equipment bags for Idaho-Washington League players. He became a high-school infielder himself and later played softball in fast company, most notably with Wordahl's Sporting Goods.

After graduating from North Central High School, the Spokane native began his newspaper career as a messenger for The Spokesman-Review advertising department in the summer of 1937.

''I made $9.80 a week and I was thrilled to death to get it,'' Spellecy recalled in a 1992 interview.

Spellecy entered the Navy in the fall of 1942. By January 1944, he was stationed as an aviation cadet at Gonzaga University. That summer, while covering the PGA Championship for The Spokesman-Review at Manito Golf and Country Club, he was summoned off the course to report for active duty.

After being wounded in the left ankle, he returned to the newspaper in September 1945 and became acting sports editor with a one-man staff.

After leaving the newspaper, he worked at the Greek-American Club before succeeding retired outfielder Dwight Aden as business manager of the Indians in 1947.

The Indians broke their own national Class B attendance record by attracting 287,185 fans that summer. But when the team was sold, Spellecy returned to work at the Greek-American Club, where he was the first in the region to hire the all-black Will Mastin Trio, featuring Mastin's nephew, Sammy Davis Jr.

He returned to the Indians for one season in 1949, one of his promotions being the home-plate marriage of catcher Jack Parks and Betty Tibbett, who were overwhelmed with gifts and cash from fans and sponsors. He later worked for the Indians on a seasonal basis.

After managing the old Spokane Ice Arena on Elm Street for a while, he took over the Spokane Elks Lodge which, during his tenure, became the largest Elks lodge in the country, with more than 8,500 members.

His association with Playfair began as public relations director and concessions manager in 1963. In 1975, he succeeded George C. Manos as general manager. Spellecy remained on the job until 1981 after Inland Empire Fair and Racing Association sold the track to Jack Pring.

He spent the final weeks of his life in the home of his elder daughter, Judy, in Hood River. He also is survived by his wife, Margaret; a son, Ron, traveling secretary for the Seattle Mariners, and his younger daughter, Debbie Spellecy of Spokane. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Hospice of the Gorge, P.O. Box 36, Hood River, OR 97031.

*****
The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, WA
Thursday, October 15, 1998
p. D5

Dennis "Denny" Spellecy

Memorial service for Dennis V. "Denny" Spellecy, 78, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.

A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Spellecy died Oct. 7.

He graduated from North Central High School and began working as a messenger in The Spokesman-Review's advertising department in 1937.

Mr. Spellecy entered the Navy in 1942 and was as an aviation cadet at Gonzaga University before reporting for active duty during World War II. He was injured and in 1945 returned to Spokane and became acting sports editor at the newspaper.

He was the former business manager for the Spokane Indians baseball team and manager at various downtown establishments, including the German-American Club. Mr. Spellecy was also the manager of the Spokane Elks Lodge and was general manager at Playfair until the early 1980s.

He served as the Greater Spokane Sports Association president and was the former chairman of the Inland Empire Sports Awards Banquet. He was also past president of the Spokane Public Relations Council and received a 25-year award from the Inland Empire Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association. He was later named to the Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame Scroll of Honor.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Debbie Spellecy of Spokane and Judy Spellecy of Hood River, Ore.; and a son, Ron Spellecy of Seattle.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Gorge, P.O. Box 36, Hood River, OR 97031.

  Events

• He appeared on the census in 1920 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington. He lived in the household of his parents.

• He appeared on the census in 1930 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington. He lived in the household of his father and step-mother, Ida May.

• He appeared on the census in 1940 at W. 1321 Fairview in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington. He lived in the household of his father and step-mother, Ida May, along with his step-mother's sister, Mary McDonald.

Dennis married Margaret Irene Ellingson, daughter of Elmer John Ellingson and Georgia M. [--?--], 28 November 1942 in Seattle, King County, Washington.⁹⁴⁹⁷ (Margaret Irene Ellingson was born 10 May 1921 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington,^{9500,9501,9502} died 15 December 2006 in Hood River, Hood River County, Oregon ^{9500,9501,9502} and was buried after 15 December 2006 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington at Greenwood Memorial Terrace ^9500,9502.)