Dale C. Hager, Jr.
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Beloved husband, brother, stepfather, grandfather and trusted friend, Dale was released from the ravages of Lewy Body Dementia to run free forever.
The eldest of six children born in Beaumont, TX to Dr. Dale and Ellen Hume Hager, Dale received a BBA at SMU, an MBA at Columbia University NYC and the Certified Financial Analyst designation while working at C.J. Lawrence in NYC.
Returning to Dallas, he became the only associate of Ackerman Associates, a job he held for many years with his much-admired mentor, Ed Ackerman. He opened his own firm in 1987 and, in later years, traveled extensively with Randy Best researching distance learning for underserved students throughout Latin America.
Dale loved sports, especially tennis and golf. He helped organize tennis leagues at The Village and enjoyed playing golf at Lakewood Country Club, and in golf leagues across the Metroplex. With his wife, he traveled to beautiful golf resorts in the U.S. and Canada, and in the process became an amateur birdwatcher. Before illness sidelined him, Dale scored two holes-in-one!
From an early age, he competed in distance running events. He was an SMU Letterman and Team Captain, ran marathons in NYC, Boston, Houston, and Dallas, and was a member of the Masters National Championship 4x400 and 4x800 Teams in 1983. He competed in and assisted Luke's All Comers Meets and entered many 5 and 10K's to support various charities. He served as Race Director of the White Rock Marathon and as President of the Cross Country Club of Dallas.
With his keen interest in running, Dale supported the track and cross country teams at Highland Park HS and enthusiastically followed students through their high school and college careers, always making friends wherever he went. He became interested in therapy and surgical orthopedic interventions for young people and volunteered at Scottish Rite for Children.
But most of all, Dale will be remembered as a gentle, kind, modest man who, at the end of the day, could be found in the home he loved with his wife and Yorkshire Terriers. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Bettie Broach Hager; siblings, Fritz Hager, Sr. and wife, Jackie, Lewise Hager Lucaire, Steve Hager, Gordon Hager and wife, Kate, Peter Hager and wife, Jeannie; stepchildren, Patrick Hubbard and wife, Mandy, and Marianna McGowan and husband, Richard.
Dale especially treasured being "Grandpa Dale" to Bettie's grandchildren, U.S. Navy Ens. Thomas McGowan, Maggie McGowan, Jimmy McGowan, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hubbard and Emily Hubbard. He also relished being "Uncle Dale" to many nieces and nephews. He followed and supported their activities and loved time spent with each of them. He will be greatly miss by so many.
The family thanks UTSW Medical Center physicians, Sharon Reimold, MD, James Daniels, MD, Baylor internist, Akira Numajiri, MD, and Richard Hinton, MD, Neurology Consultants of Dallas. Helping care for Dale at home were Olaya Yeverino and Graciela Mendoza. The caregivers at CC Young's long-term skilled nursing unit were outstanding. Davin Campbell was especially helpful to Bettie. Mickey Hunt provided wise counsel. Hospice Care Chaplain Eric Markinson and Mary Pat Smith, RN brought peace and closure when it mattered most.
At Dale's request, there will be no funeral. If desired, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Scottish Rite for Children at scottishriteforchildren.org