The Polo Report
by Steve Crowder
A little man with a big shadow is the way I would describe Henry Trione. Henry does deserve a place in the Polo Hall of Fame as well as California Vintners Hall. He made it in 2008. Henry was inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame as the Philip Iglehart Award, a well deserved honor. He built and made Santa Rosa Polo Club a while back and Bud Dardi was his first member. He did so many things and no one ever heard him squawking about it. He just did it. Some of those where he was the biggest owner of Wells Fargo until Berkshire took over. He bought Geyser Wines from an old friend, Uihliens of Schlitz for 20 mil. He sold it 15 yrs later for a 100. He did know how to make money as well as friends. Henry was also part owner of Oakland Raiders and had 3 Super Bowls rings to prove it. He started and founded Empire College of business in Santa Rosa. Henry saved Annadel Park from a housing development and turned it into a State Park. He was a major player, if not the Major in turning Santa Rosa from a cow-town to a regional hub of fiance and education.
I first met Henry about 1987 and he was about ½ the size I expected from all the stories I had heard about him. However, 5 minutes after you met him you knew he is as big as they get and is a Polo Players dream. Henry loved the game and had the courage and time to play as well as support it in ways few have ever done. He gave it his all on the field. Henry was a gentleman and good sport on the field at all times even when tempers flew, he was the calming force who could relax the fire to friendly flames. I was invited to play with Henry in a league one month at Eldorado. The team was a bit hot with Leslie Reeder, Ben Benjamin and me. We were all a bit noisy, but every game it was Henry saying “we’re fine just keep playing” and we won the Bronze. When Henry made the winning goal he made us all feel like we did it not him. Henry did not play the high-goal, but he was behind the scenes always building the image of the sport and getting the things done to keep it a real sport. He kept Santa Rosa Polo going thru the hard times and was always willing to lend a helping hand to the neighboring clubs to make it work for them. He was always a man more involved in getting the job done than getting the glory.
In our very fast world many things and deeds are forgotten and this seems to be true here. Henry was the #1 force in creating Senior Polo around the planet. First using the wine making country a big part of it. Now its everywhere from Montreal, Canada to Melbourne, Australia and this has been huge for polo even in the Pampas of South America they play seniors Polo.
Back in the early 90’s when polo took a world wide hit due to the economy, it was a gray season at El Dorado where membership had dropped by 50 % due to the cash flow. Henry just kept putting in the teams and pushing the sport and created the Seniors to the max. I’m sure this was why we now have the Barbra Sinatra Skins Tournament. As people saw how this could bring people and animals together for so many charities. It was only two weeks ago in Santa Barbra at the Pacific Coast Open finals I looked up and there he was walking up as alert and happy as could be. There had just been a very good clean fun polo game and that is what he stood for in our game. More people in that huge crowd knew Henry than the 8 players who had just finished the game. That’s the way he is. A very good guy with nothing to prove. He was a hell of a Man and nobody knew how tall he was. So Long SIR, and this is a quote by HENRY TRIONE found in an old interview. The reporter asked why he gave away so much and he said “There are no luggage racks on a HEARSE.” THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND SO SORRY TO SEE YOU GO.
see ya
Steve crowder