Keeping the community on track

REARDAN - Many children are fascinated by trains. Dale Swant was not one of them. As a child he owned "a train set or two," but reading, not trains, was his passion.

But his love for the written word led the 81-year-old local man on a windy path from Montana to western Washington and finally to Reardan, where he is president of the Lions Club and face of the Inland Northwest Rail Museum.

Swant was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, in 1942. While his father worked at the copper ore smelter in Anaconda, Swant sold magazines and Burpee seeds to earn spending money.

He realized he had a knack for sales and was "destined for a career in marketing." After graduation, he enrolled in journalism classes at the University of Montana.

While attending college, Swant accepted a job with The Missoulian. After leaving college, he moved to Helena and sold advertisements for the Helena Independent Record.

In 1965, Fishing and Hunting News hired Swant as editor of its Montana edition, where he not only wrote content, but was also responsible for selling advertisements, designing graphics and overseeing production.

He moved to Edmonds in 1970 to become the circulation manager for Alaska Magazine and later the general manager for Outlook newspapers.

It was there that Swant met his future wife Arlene at the Seattle Ceramic Show, where she won "Best of Show" for her entry.

Swant and Arlene married, and with no prior experience with crafts, he purchased a ceramic shop.

"You learn by doing," he said.

He capitalized on his experience in the newspaper business and published a magazine called Ceramic World. It became a national publication with a circulation of approximately 70,000.

Swant threw himself into the world of ceramics. He became a certified teacher and a nationally recognized ceramics expert. He authored 30 instruction and ceramic pattern books. His book titled "Ceramics for Beginners" sold 100,000 copies.

Swant and Arlene then transitioned into antique doll reproduction and tole painting. He published Doll Crafter Magazine, which had a circulation of 50,000, and Tole World. He later owned Daisy Publishing and oversaw 37 employees.

Besides working in their ceramics business, Swant was a member of the Lions Club and Arlene was a member of the Lioness Club in Mukilteo. Arlene devoted much of her time helping battered women and provided support to the "Cocoon House," a safe haven for women. For her leadership and outstanding contributions, the J. C. Penney Corporation awarded her "Woman of the Year."

A fellow Lions Club member, Ron Robinson, told Swant that the farm Robinson grew up on west of Reardan was for sale. In the mid-1980s, the Swants moved to Reardan and remodeled the 1903 one-room schoolhouse that would become their new home.

He immediately immersed himself in the Reardan community. He became president of the Reardan Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Inland Northwest Rail Museum, Lincoln County Economic Development Council and Lincoln County Visitors Bureau. Swant and Arlene also co-chaired Reardan Mule Days for 13 years.

"I believe when you join something, you are committed," Swant said. "You should give whatever you can to make it successful and a great place for others."

Today, Swant is as busy as ever. He writes grants, leads tours and oversees a team of volunteers at the Rail Museum. He writes and publishes all the brochures, historical guides and educational materials available at the museum.

As president of the Lions Club, he works tirelessly to make sure the annual Easter Egg hunt and Bunny Bingo are a success.

"Bunny Bingo is my favorite event of the year," he said. "It is a lot of work but very rewarding because the money we make benefits the school, its students and helps support other community programs."

Swant would like to retire someday, but because of his commitments, can't find the time.

He recently wrote, designed and published the West Plains Visitor, Business, Relocation Guide. In addition, he edited and designed the graphics for a newly published book, "My Montana Birds."

When not working, Swant enjoys time with Arlene, his miniature horses and donkeys and Big Bird, his Emu. One day he hopes to assemble the greenhouse sitting inside his barn "because I want to grow flowers."

Paul Roberts, a volunteer at the museum, praised Swant for his commitment to the community.

"Dale has his fingers in a lot of pies, and he keeps stirring the ingredients until they all turn out perfect," he said.

Reflecting on his journey from his childhood days as a Burpee seed salesman until the present, Swant is most grateful for the people he has met along the way.

"We have a great community and I want to make a difference," he said. "If I could impress anything on our kids, it would be that when you give of yourself, you get more in return."