Dick "Mr. Burien" Dahlgard passed away last November, and Sal's Deli owner Jim Hughes is trying to erect a statue in his honor.

Jim Hughes, longtime Burien businessman, is having an organizational meeting at Sal’s Deli on Tuesday, July 7th at 4pm regarding erecting a statue in honor of Dick “Mr. Burien” Dahlgard, who passed away in November 2008.

Hughes is looking for volunteers to help with this project (which we first reported on June 7th), and below is a photo of a prototype sculpture, designed by local artist Phillip Levine, which depicts Dahlgard as a whimsical 35mm camera with three human legs as a tripod. A large unraveling roll of film with be place at the lower region of the piece and may include the long list of civic involvements he selflessly dedicated so much of his time towards.

The sculpture will stand over six feet high and will be crafted from brass; the location for installation is still being discussed but is proposed for the new town square development:

“I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m hoping some kind-hearted Burienites will volunteer to help,” said Hughes. “I would invite anyone who would like to help to come on Tuesday.”

The meeting will be this Tuesday, July 7th at Sal’s Deli, which is located at 15212 6th Ave SW in downtown Burien. For more information, please call Jim Hughes at (206) 246-7181.

Photo of Dick Dahlgard taken by Maureen Hoffmann at the 2005 Highline High School Homecoming game. Maureen says: "Dick was very committed to contributing to this community in many ways. His touch on Burien will be missed."

Just a reminder that the memorial service for Dick “Mr. Burien” Dahlgard will be held Saturday, Nov. 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166 (map below).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:

Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video of tributes and memories of Dick from some of his peers:

Click here to view the embedded video.

He was 73.

Dick was born in Pierre, SD, the first son of Dennis and Hazel, the oldest of four.  They moved to Seattle in 1942 where Dick attended Sunnydale Elementary and Highline High School and graduated in 1954.  Following high school he went to work for Tall’s Camera and the Washington State Patrol. In 1958, Dick joined the Army as a cryptographer where he served in Hawaii and the Pentagon.

Following his military service he moved to Seattle and worked for Tall’s Camera.  In 1969 he opened Dick’s Camera and Sound which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2006.

He is well known among the community for donating his time and talents as a photographer.  He was an avid philanthropist and over the years dedicated his time to the Highline Historical Society, Highline Medical Center Foundation, the Hi-Liners, Discover Burien, and Merchants of Burien. He was an active member of the Burien-White Center Rotary for over 46 years.

He is survived by his son Nels Dahlgard of San Diego, daughters Cathy Chambers of Newport Beach, CA, Julie Faugeroux of Portland, OR, and Paige Dahlgard of Seattle, WA, sister Karen Dahlgard of Kirkland, WA, brother Daryl Dahlgard of La Conner, WA, and sister Kristin Galante of Mukilteo, WA.

He will be forever missed and loved.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:

Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166

To view a special video with memories of Dick, click here.

Below are some comments we’ve received from Readers:

Knew Dick for over 50 years.  Friend at Highline Hich,  co-community worker through Burien Chamber of Commerce, Highline Community Hospital Foundation Board, 4th of July Parade, Miss Burien Scholarship Pageant, Political volunteer, but most of all a shared love of Burien and young people.  He was truly a giver and he gave out of a sincerely giving heart.  Never expecting or wanting anything back.  I draw comfort knowing I’ll see him again at a much bigger reunion.

- Joan Dehn

Dick Dahlgard passed away Wed., Nov. 5th

With the passing of Dick Dahlgard on Wednesday, Nov. 5th, Burien has lost one of its most passionate supporters. So passionate in fact, that he was often referred to as “Mr. Burien.”

While working in sales at the Highline Times, I passed many informative hours sitting in Dick’s very cluttered office at Dick’s Camera and Video on First Avenue in Burien. He’d share Burien’s history and historical artifacts with me and tell me endless stories about the old days. Like most people in Burien, I bought my first camera from Dick (I was over 50, and it was a digital!).

And like most people in Burien, I considered Dick Dahlgard a friend.

As a 1954 graduate of Highline High School, Dick was a treasure-trove of information about the school and area.  When we last spoke, he was busy planning the 55th Reunion of the class of ’54 which will take place next summer. The only time he was away from Burien was while he was in the service after high school.  He was proud of his kids and their service to our country. Daughter Paige served in the Washington Army National Guard in Baghdad, Iraq, while son Nels is a Marine currently stationed in California.

A photographer at Highline High School, Dick turned his passion into his business.

Among many venues of community service, Dick was the official photographer and promoter of The Hi-Liners from its very beginning; a board member of Discover Burien and past president of Merchants of Burien; and a board member and volunteer of The Highline Historical Society.

He was always proud of his 46-year association with Rotary International, especially the Burien/White Center chapter that meets every Thursday at 12 noon at Angelo’s of Burien. He was so devoted that he never missed a meeting in his entire 46 years.

Wanting to pay tribute to Dick, I caught up with a few local Rotarians Thursday prior to this week’s meeting, tragically the first missed by Dick in 46 years.  Many members were just hearing about his passing when they entered the weekly gathering.

We at the BTB cannot put into words what Dick Dahlgard meant to this community. Here’s what some of his fellow Rotarians and a few community leaders had to say about Dick:

If you’d like to share your thoughts on Dick, please do so in our Comments section below.

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