By Pat Marcantonlo
Times-News writer

TWIN FALLS: Dean Vickers rode a boxcar into Twin Falls as a teenager
looking for work.

Seventy-two years later he left behind a legacy as one of the towns
early businessmen, as a friend to cowboys out on the range and in film,
and as a gentleman.

Vickers, 88, died early Sunday morning at the Twin Falls Care Center after a brief Illness. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church In Filer. Burial follows at Sunset Memorial Park.

Born In 1909 In Beloit, Kan., he came to Idaho by rail at 16 . In 1925, he returned to Kansas and worked for one year to buy a Model T and
enough gas to drive back to Twin Falls.

In 1936, he married Alma J. Smith, and together they had two sons, BillyDean and James Raymond.

After working for an uncle, he started Vickers Freight Lines, which became one of the larger, locally-owned and operated hauling companies. He and his wife hauled most of the building materials for homes in the Lynnwood Mail shopping area and the bricks for the Twin Falls High School.

He retired in 1959, but after four years went back to work. In 1962, Vickers and his wife bought a small saddle and harness shop for$3,500 and started Vickers Western Store along with son, Jim, and his wife, Sandy. He was considered one of the best saddle repairmen in the state. A second store was founded in Pocatello in 1976 with his son, Bill.

While In the business, he developed friendships with actors Steve McQueen and Joel McCrea and sold or furnished saddles and tack for their later western movies. His family says McQueen used Vickers'
equipment for his last Him, "Tom Horn," Including Dean's personal bridle. They remained good friends until McQueen's death from cancer several years ago.

Alma Vickers died In 1973, and Vickers married Anna Bell Sharp on Dec. 21, 1974 In Elko, Nev.

Vickers remained active at the store until September of last year when, at 87, ill health forced him to slow down.

He also was busy outside his business. Vickers was a 50-year member of the Twin Falls Elks Lodge, founder of the Twin Falls Junior Riding Club and brought one of the largest horse shows to town. He also was
credited with helping to bring the Miss Rodeo Idaho contest to the Twin Falls County Fair in the early 1960s.

In 1993 Vickers was selected as Western Days Pioneer of the Year.

Longtime customer Chady Word described Vickers as a real old time cowboy. "He knew who he was and what he was made of and where he came from. It seemed like he always had direction," she said. "This was a man who didn't ever go unnoticed, businesswise and personally. "He was always a fine gentlemen, and we had a lot of respect for him," said Emery Petersen, who operates another western store in Twin Falls. "But we were friendly competitors."

"He was a very pleasant man and come from that generation of fine old Western gentleman. I had nothing but admiration for him said Ernie Wills Of Wills Toyota across the street. He and his family also bought western tack from the store.

J. C. Williams met Vickers when his children joined the junior riding club and Vickers was the drill master. Their families also went on horseback trips together.

"Dean was a heck of a good friendly guy," Williams said. He was a good horseman with a good sense of humor.

"Dean loved working in the back (of the store) with the leather and stuff," Williams said. "He was like us, he liked horses he liked working the kids. Dean was a good friend really."

Times-News staff writer Pat Marcantonio can be reached at 733-0931, Ext. 242.