Dalton Thomas, longtime WVC Athletics contributor and community booster was inducted into the WVC Athletics Hall of Fame in January, 2020.

Dalton’s impact in the Wenatchee Valley is significant. With more than 50 years in the fruit industry, Dalton has retired and yet his legacy in our community continues. In 1997, Dalton and his brother Herb donated funds to help construct and maintain the Wenatchee Valley College Baseball Field, named after their father, Paul Thomas Senior. 

Former WVC Athletic Director, Sandy Cooprider says, “Dalton Thomas is one of the most loyal and generous men when it comes to supporting the youth of our valley.  He has made a difference in the lives of this community that will live forever.”

On March 13,^, 1995 the community celebrated the opening of Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium by having Dalton Thomas throw out the first pitch for the inaugural first game played on our home field. It was the start of something special.

The Paul Thomas Senior field is also home to the Wenatchee AppleSox.  Jim Corcoran, founder of the Wenatchee AppleSox says, “Without this generous contribution to the baseball stadium, the AppleSox would not exist. Their support of the Wenatchee Valley College project brought the stadium up to the standards necessary to host a summer collegiate baseball team like the AppleSox.  That field was our only option when the team was founded, and it still serves today as one of the best collegiate baseball parks in the NWAC and West Coast League.”

Dalton also donated over 1 million dollars to turf the infield and build a hitting facility for Recreation Park that is able to be used by youth, high school, and WVC athletes.

Dalton Thomas is the youngest son of Paul “Tommy” & Marguerite Thomas, Founders of Oneonta Trading Corporation in 1934, and the first exporter of Washington apples.  Dalton was raised in East Wenatchee with his two brothers, Paul and Herb, and was a graduate of Wenatchee High School in 1960. Dalton went on to graduate from the University of Washington.  In 1965 Dalton and his brother Herb started working for Oneonta, and in 1971 they acquired the business from their father. In 2002 Dalton acquired sole interest in Oneonta, now Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers.  Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers received the Washington State Governor Trader of the Year Award in 2006 and in 2008 created Diamond Starr Growers, one of the largest pear marketers in the Northwest.

Reggie Collins, Vice President and Director of Chelan Fresh Marketing says, “I’ve known Dalton for more than 40 years. You can use all kinds of words – generous, loyal, trustworthy, wise and insightful – to describe him. But one thing’s certain: He’s the one you’d like to be in the trenches with.”