Several years ago I had the unfortunate experience of losing a very close friend to a terminal illness. When Dustan became ill, he was still of the age and health where he was able to participate in a dream hunt for whitetail in the state of Texas. I had known Dustan's father, Kelly, from years back but had fell out of touch over the years. When Dustan became ill, his father and I rekindled our friendship and I was able to talk to him about the hunt that Dustan was granted. I was eventually introduced to the gracious individual that hosted that hunt, when Dustan's father and I made a trip to Texas to hunt hogs on the very ranch where Dustan's dream hunt took place. During our stay, Kelly took me around the ranch and we stopped by the stand where Dustan had harvested his once-in-a-lifetime Texas whitetail. It was then that Kelly shared with me that the ranch owner had not moved the stand since Dustans' hunt and it had been appropriately named "Dustan's stand." This was his way of paying tribute to a young man that had touched his heart in a way that he will never forget. To this day, that stand is still in the same place and it is known to all who come, as "Dustans' stand."
After the hunt and supper that evening, Kelly went back to the lodge to catch up on sleep and I was invited into Tom's house, the owner of the ranch. After talking for a while, he asked me if I wanted to watch the video of Dustan's hunt and I agreed. Although I had watched Dustan's hunt before, this time it was very different because Tom gave a step-by-step account of the entire hunt as if it had happened only yesterday. As the evening went on, I was able to see just how much of an impact this single event had on every person that was involved, especially Tom. It was then that I knew somehow I had to be a part of something like this, I just did not know how or in what way.
After the trip and on the way home, the idea for Dream Pursuit began. I spent the next year in careful thought, prayer and preparation as I wanted to make sure that Dream Pursuit was going to be an organization where families could place their trust to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Too often in this life we are simply content with what this world has to offer with no thought of what we might give back, myself included. Having witnessed the lasting impression this hunt had left on everyone involved, I then realized it was time for me to "give back."
Rick Davis
Founder/President