Mr. Jerry D’Arcy (pronounced DRC and fondly known as Mr. D)
Mr. D past away in 2001 at the age of 79. His wife Patti lives in Calgary and son Clyde and daughter Rebecca live in Denver, Colorado.
Mr. D was born in Denison, Texas and attended University of Tulsa where he was a 6’6” centre for the very successful football team. Mr. D’s football career was interrupted by the war where he served in the Army Air Force for 41 months. He came back to the university to finish his degree and then became the assistant coach for the football team in 1949.
Mr. D started working for Arrow Drilling in 1953 and was transferred to Calgary in 1954 where he also became involved with the Calgary Stampeders. In 1960 he bought Can-Tex Drilling where he was President until he sold the company a few years before he died.
Mr. D has many accomplishments. In 1973 he was inducted into the University of Tulsa Hall of Fame. He is past president of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors; Past President of Calgary Petroleum Club; Past President of the Calgary Stampede and Past President of Canadian Quarter Horse Association.
Mr. D bought the golf course land in 1963 and ran a quarter horse ranch complete with an indoor arena (where the existing maintenance building is) and a quarter mile track ( situated around the second hole on the golf course). When Mr. D decided to build his own golf course he contracted Finger Dye and Spann of Houston, Texas to design a links style course that is challenging for experienced golfers yet enjoyable for beginners. He also thought it very important that to provide employment to local teenagers as Okotoks was a growing community. The golf club was to be a public facility where everyone could experience a day of golf and be treated like members of a private course.
