Howard Newton Pettit

While never a race driver, Howard Pettit served the RMMRA in several important capacities for many seasons. He was a five-term president from 1963-1968, except 1965 when he had to step down for personal reasons. He was also the director of competition for five years under President Mitch Miller. I am told that he again served in that position, in the year 2000. Another North Denver native, Howard became a midget fan, in 1946, when taken to the track by an aunt. Howard had been tuned in to the sound of engines for years, living as close as he did to the track, but never was able to attend until after the war. Later he sold programs and pencils for the track. In those days he became a big Johnny Tolan fan. He and his pals, Warren Scheibe, Dick Gero and Ronnie Wheeler, all joined the Marine Corp together. While stationed in Southern California they frequented several midget tracks. All but Wheeler returned to Denver after the service. Wheeler stayed on the coast and launched a driving career that included both midgets and sprint cars. A bad accident in the bigger brothers ended that avocation a few years later. Gero and another Denver northsider, Jerry Nunes, hired on at the Rocky Mountain News and were able to help open doors there for Pettit after he was elected RMMRA president. He also worked for jazz musician Stu Jackson in their family business Denver Burglar Alarm. He took a break from that for awhile and invested in a tavern. This was injurious to his health but that was recovered when he went back into alarm systems with DBA. Preceded in death by father Frank, mother Ruby and wife Barbara. Survived by Gene & Robin Pettit, Rhonda & Gene Stewart, Christine & Don Shaffer, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and long time best friend Alice Hamer. Graveside Service to be held Wednesday, October 3rd at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 So. Sheridan Blvd., staging area "B" followed by a reception at American Legion Post # 178, 165 Simms St. Lakewood. PUBLIC WELCOME, you may bring a dish to share Birth: Sep 7, 1934, Denver, Colorado, United States Death: Sep 25, 2012, Denver, Colorado, United States