Former county chairman killed in bicycle accident

GARDNERVILLE - A memorial service for former Douglas County commission chairman David Pumphrey, 64, will be Aug. 5 in Reno.

Pumphrey, 64, died Saturday at Washoe Medical Center, from injuries he sustained in a bicycle accident on July 20, his wife, Patsy, said.

Pumphrey served on the county commission from 1989 to 1996.

Authorities are seeking the driver of a light blue compact sedan involved in the accident which took place at 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Double R Boulevard and Sandhill Road.

After the collision, a good Samaritan came to Pumphrey's aid, his wife said. He was taken to Washoe Medical Center where it appeared he was improving until his death Saturday.

He was wearing a helmet when the collision occurred.

Minden resident Bob Allgeier served as vice chairman and chairman with Pumphrey on the Douglas County commission from 1993 to 1996.

"I thought he did a very good job serving the people of Douglas County," he said. "He was one of those people who played at 110 percent, and he lived his life at 110 percent. He had a high energy level and a high intelligence level and did everything the same way."

Gardnerville resident Barbara Smallwood also served on the county commission with Pumphrey.

"He was a dedicated public servant, and he worked diligently for all the citizens of Douglas County," she said. "It was a pleasure to be on the board of commissioners with him."

Pumphrey had moved to Reno from Gardnerville five years ago. He was an avid bicyclist and skier, who kept on riding despite knee surgery in March. He participated in the Alpine County Death Ride and was a member of a Reno bicycling group.

Pumphrey was commission chairman when work on the 1996 master plan was being done, and is one of the commissioners to have signed the document when it was approved.

He arrived in Carson Valley in 1970. He worked for Bently Nevada for 12 years in sales, management and product development before entering McGeorge Law School in Sacramento under a special program and received a law degree in 1983.

Pumphrey successfully challenged county commissioner Jerry Bing in 1988.

He closed his law practice in 1990 and won a second term to the commission in 1992.

A memorial service is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno. Trinity Episcopal Church is at 100 Island Ave., in downtown Reno.