Joe redington sr biography

American dog musher (1917-1999)

Joe Redington, Senior (February 1, 1917 – June 24, 1999) was an Americandog musher and kennel owner, who is best known as the "Father of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race", a long distance sled dog race run annually from the Anchorage area to Nome, Alaska.

Early life

Redington was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on February 1, 1917, and lived there until he was six years old. His mother left him shortly after his birth, and he grew up with his father and his brothers James and Ray.

Joe Redington's father was a laborer who worked as a rancher, and on the oil fields.

Joe redington sr

In 1940, Redington enlisted in the United States Army, and joined the 6th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. He was later transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he became part of the infantry, and was trained in the Field Artillery Jump School.

He fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and was part of the Seabees, building runways