Richard Fuller Peck was always a type of man that knew what he wanted in life. When it came to hunting the Lost Dutchman Mine he would say “Show me the bottom line, that pice of paper that tells me where to put the pick in the ground.” Off and on for thirty-five years Richard Peck searched the Superstition Wilderness Area for the legendary mine. He placed his pick in the ground at several locations, believing he solved the mystery of the mine’s location. Peck collected maps from a variety of sources hoping they would provide that one clue that would lead him to the entrance of the Dutchman’s mine.
Peck began his study of the Superstition Mountain region during the early 1960s. His first major prospecting expedition occurred in the winter of 1964-65. At this time Peck was the head of his own advertising company in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had previously worked for Proctor and Gamble as their radio, television and print media manager. It was at Proctor and Gamble that Richard met his lifelong friend and companion Dutch hunter financier Ralph Glendinning. Rick and Ralph continued this search throughout their lives.
Peck’s operation headquarters was located at the Superstition Inn Hotel and [he] used a helicopter to travel to and from his claims. He also hired several Indians from Sacaton to work in the mountains. Peck worked hard while trying to find the mine. He worked three main areas in the Superstition Wilderness. One place was located on the north end [of] Bluff Springs Mountain just under the cliffs. Peck and his crews excavated an enormous hole at this site. He then moved into Needle Canyon around Weaver’s Needle. He eventually moved his operation to the Three Red Hills area after concluding his work near the base of Weaver’s Needle. It is speculated that Richard Peck and his partner spent close to $200,000 during this period of exploration. Peck also spent an enormous amount of money on documentation and research. Who was this very wealthy man who searched for the Lost Dutchman Mine so adamantly during the 1960s?
He was born Richard Fuller Peckstein on June 26, 1921 in Rochester, New York. Rick’s father became Dean of the Teacher’s College at the University of Cincinnati. Rick attended Santa Monica Junior College and entered Princeton University in 1939. He majored in Modern Languages and Military Science, graduating in 1943 with a B.A. degree. He immediately entered the United States Army as a second lieutenant and served as an Army field artillery instructor at Camp Roberts, California. While at Camp Roberts he developed a panoramic artillery gun sighting system to improve the performance of the gunners. After promotion to 1st Lieutenant he served as an Army observation pilot. He legally changed his name to Peck shortly after World War Two. He then became involved in advertising management after a short stay on his family’s citrus farm near Brownsville, Texas.
The first book Rick Peck read about the Lost Dutchman Mine was authored by Sims Ely. At his first operational site in the Superstition Wilderness near the north end of Bluff Springs Mountain, Peck had fresh steaks, cold drinks and ice flown in daily by helicopter until the forest rangers put a stop to using a helicopter in a national wilderness area. He also worked all around Weaver’s Needle following a variety of clues he had found and had been handed down to him by friends. However, none of these clues ever produced any large quantities of gold.
Rick Peck sold his advertising agency to his partner, Mr. Heekin, in 1960, and moved to Phoenix. He lived there from 1971-1979. While in Phoenix he became general sales manager of the Rural Metro Fire Department. Rick met his wife, Joan Burgess, while working for Rural Metro. They were married in 1976.
Rick left Rural Metro Fire Department in 1980 to form a mining company with his old friend Ralph Glendinning. Rick and Ralph conducted a very successful mine management operation in Colorado. Rick eventually moved to Mesa, then finally moved out to Gold Canyon. Richard Peck (Peckstein) passed away on May 31, 2000.
Richard Peck and I visited many times over the years and we always remained friends. He attended many of my birthday parties in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was always anxious to assist my in any way to help with the Superstition Mountain Museum or the classes I taught for Central Arizona College in Apache Junction. Peck was a very successful businessman. I recognized his keen knowledge of business and investment. He was the type of man who controlled his own destiny.
Rick Peck left a legacy behind in fifteen boxes of records, documents, maps, letters, notes, and photographs from his enormous library. These records are now a part of the Superstition Mountain Historical Society. In gathering this personal library, Rick Peck has provided a window for future historians to look back at the history of the Superstition Wilderness Area.
I would like to express my appreciation to Greg Davis for information used in this story.
