NORTH GEORGETOWN – Astronomers know of Halley’s Comet which was last seen in 1986 and will not appear again until 2061. Another Haley’s Comet is better known for tractor pull competition. It was a tractor owned by David Haley, a veteran tractor puller who will be honored by a benefit in his memory.

Haley passed away June 16 after a bout with cancer at his home in Hanoverton. The Haley Family Benefit Pull hosted by the Columbiana County Antique Tractor Association will take place at 5 p.m. Aug. 29 at Mile Branch Grange, 295 Knox School Road.

“This is a make-up pull for the club as well as a benefit for Dave,” association president Sid French said. “There will be a raffle with cash prizes as well as the pull.”

There is also a collection jar for the family at the Columbiana County Fair, according to French. There will be more tractor pulls at the fair on Friday and Saturday.

Haley served as president of the National Tractor Pulling Association for 8 1/2 years and was inducted into the NPTA Hall of Fame in 1981. He along with Andy Main were recipients of the 1980 Lyle Bishman Memorial Award for service to the sport. He was a graduate of Carrollton High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army.

He began his career in 1950 in Carrollton on a 1944 Massey-Harris. At that time the sport of tractor pulling resembled what is now known as an antique or farm stock pull. Pullers used their everyday tractors complete with stock frames and stock engines.

The creation of Haley’s Comet, a modified tractor, came later as Haley and his brother Dale became two of the sport’s originators.

Dale Haley built the first comet in 1974 which was a D21 Allis Chalmers. Then Dave Haley followed with an Allison using a P51 fireplane engine.

In addition to being an avid tractor puller, Haley was a Master track builder, a former Hanover Township Trustee, and active in the F.F.A.

He won the BG 7,000-pound class in 1972 with a single Chevy 440 with a pair of 750 Holley four barrel carbuerators with a Cockshutt rear end.

Haley constructed a new tractor in 1973 that he dubbed “Foxy Lady.” It enabled to earn 11 national wins in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Georgia, and Florida and 12,200 open wins at the famed invitational Indy Super Pull.

The legend of Dave Haley which spans three generations goes beyond the local area and stretches across the United States and Canada.

Haley’s sons Justin and Jason are carrying on the family tradition of tractor pulling on the local circuit with Justin taking over as owner of the company which does trackbuilding for the tractor pulling circuit.

The Haley Family Benefit Pull is free to the public and will have bleacher seating and a concession stand.