Ralph Meeker, Carnivals Were Fixture In Northwest, 88

[DGH]

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Ralph Meeker, who went from teenage hot dog vendor to owner and operator
of the longest continually running carnival company in the Pacific
Northwest, died Friday, June 21, 2002, at the age of 88. He was known
for his spotless shoes, white pants, loud ties and booming voice.

In 1979, while his carnival was in Boise, Idaho, to be filmed for the
Clint Eastwood movie "Bronco Billy," high winds began tearing at the big
top, and metal stakes holding down the huge tent started to loosen.

Mr. Meeker quickly mustered his crew, getting down on his knees to hold
some of the stakes in place as the roustabouts pounded them back down.

"A guy came up and asked what was going on," said Greg Stewart,
president of the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima. "Ralph said,
'If you'd get your hands out of your pockets and give us a hand, we'll
save this tent.' Ralph had such a powerful voice that the guy actually
jumped. He looked up and it was Clint Eastwood."

With the economy at full throttle during World War II, Mr. Meeker paid
$4,000 for a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, Octopus ride, food stand and
two kiddie rides. Meeker Shows grew to become a fixture throughout
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and much of western Canada.

[cforsy...@gmail.com]

How sad for the True Loss of Mr. Ralph Meeker my he be in the great Carnival in the Sky. So long Ralph Meeker. Charles & Pamala Forsyth. Good Day (06/23/13)

[radioacti...@gmail.com]

Uh...not to be confused with--as I nearly did until checking the record!--the actor Ralph Meeker, who once expertly played Mike Hammer onscreen. The acting Meeker was born in Minneapolis (along with Stan Musial in rural western Pennsylvania) on Sunday, November 21, 1920, and died Friday, August 5, 1988.

BRYAN STYBLE/Florida