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Sally Eleanor Polk, 78, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2008. She was born Nov. 22, 1929, in Palo Alto, Ca., to Dudley and Alice DeGroot. Sal was brilliantly talented, highly accomplished, and touched many lives, both two-legged and four. Sal graduated from Monrovia High School in California, where she was a competitive swimmer and national caliber diver. She moved to New Mexico and attended UNM, where she competed on the rodeo team as a barrel racer. Her father coached the UNM Lobo football team, where she met the linebacker and end, Gene Polk. They were married in Amarillo, Texas, on November 8, 1952. After moving extensively with the oil field, they settled in Farmington in 1959 and resided there until 1976. During her 17 years in Farmington, she was very involved in many young people's lives. She and Gene founded the Farmington Boys Club, where they both coached Silver Gloves boxing. She coached the Tarpons swim team and started and coached the Farmington Fleetfooters AAU track team. She was a Cub Scout den mother, Brownie troop leader, and started a mounted Girl Scout drill team. In addition, she was a member of the Sheriff's Posse search and rescue. Every Halloween she entertained scores of young people as they came to the Polk's house and were greeted by a witch (Sal) and Frankenstein (Gene). While in Farmington, Sal started Polk's Arabians, where she raised and trained Arabian horses. In 1976, she moved to Sandia Park, in the East Mountains, where she continued her horse operation under the new name of Enchantment Arabians. Sal loved singing and became a part of the choir at the Community Church of the Sandias. She also decided to start competing in Senior track and field throwing events. In 1993, she won a bronze medal at the world games in Australia in the throwing pentathlon -shot, discus, javelin, hammer, and weight throw. She competed in the Senior Olympics, winning several medals, and went on to set a world record in the Hammer throw. She helped coach some of the Master competitors as well as coaching the thrillers at several area high schools including Mountaineer, where she moved in 1998. In 1995 she lost her leg due to complications from a horse riding accident. She then turned her attention to another one of her amazing talents, art. She was well known in Farmington for her sculptures and belt buckles she made for High School sports awards banquets. She did sketching, stain glass, ceramic, and Bronze sculptures. Many of her works were produced and shown by nationally famous Name Mills. She decided to expand her artistic expression to include leather and bodywork, in which she won best of show the last three years at the New Mexico state fair. One overriding love of Sal's throughout her life was that of all creatures great and small. She loved animals and would rescue anything that needed it. Her home was never void of many thankful creatures who were given a second chance. She also loved Irish Wolfhound dogs, having owned and bred many throughout the years. She is survived by her love of 56 years, Gene Polk; sisters, Dr. Alice DeGroot. and Nancy Dyeing; brother, Dudley DeGroot.; daughters, Kim Asleep, Line Denton, and Sand Withers; sons, Staff Polk and Fritz Polk; their spouses; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Mountain Christian Church, 12242 Hwy N. 14th in Cedar Crest.
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