Delmer Leroy Webb

Delmer LeRoy Webb passed away in his sleep at home on March 17, 2024, at the age of 94. Delmer came into this world on Christmas Eve 1929, in a home on the family farm in Turner, Oregon. He was the first-born son of Thomas and Macel Webb followed by his sister Barbara and brother Lilbern, both deceased. He is survived by his wife Shirley Webb, children Denise Coggins, Diana Cheek and Bennie Webb, and his grandchildren Richard Coggins, Landon Coggins, Delmer Wade Coggins, Natalie Cheek, Buddy Cheek, Garth Kiasi, Sophia Kiasi, Jacob Boomhower, Maygen Rea, Brandi Webb, and Tristin Webb, and his many great-grandchildren.

Delmer was a local celebrity as a thoroughbred owner and trainer, breaking track records at Portland Meadows in the 1960’s with Dr Spark and other horses. He was still going strong with a three-year stint as “Trainer of the Year”, and winning 45 races in 1996-1997, at the age of 67, breaking Portland Meadows record. Reluctant to retire, Delmer continued training into his 80’s with his son Bennie.

As a boy, he worked with his father on the dairy farm, raising beef cattle, and helping train horse-teams to pull wagons. Delmer literally grew up on horses and could be called an “Animal Whisperer”. As young as 10 years of age, Delmer would ride his pony to the train station in Turner and take delivery of horses herding them through the streets to the family farm on the outskirts of town. As a teen he and the local boys were known to organize small Rodeos on local farms, and he went on to ride in Rodeos such as the St. Paul Rodeo, and jockey and gallop horses on the racetrack.

"We got into rodeoing, then into racehorses," he (Delmer) said. "I thought I was pretty good, but I really don't know. But you could make $100 in an afternoon in some of those little towns, and that was pretty good money back then." - Oregon Statesman Journal article from 11-23-1997

He was drafted into the Army at the age of 21 and spent time in Thule Greenland and the Panama Canal. When he returned home, he met his wife Shirley, and they were married in February of 1954, one year later they started their family raising them on the family farm. He and his dad Tom trained horses together until Tom’s death in 1963. Delmer’s brother, Lilbern, stepped in as a part-time trainer and together they ran the family cattle/dairy farm.

Never one to miss a celebration, Delmer died on St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t forget to raise a green pint to the great horse trainer in the sky each year on March 17th!

Delmer Webb had one hell of a great life!