Chesaw Fourth of July Rodeo Grand Marshal Glen Richardson

CHESAW – Glenn Richardson, long-time member of the Chesaw and Oroville communities, has been selected as this year’s Chesaw Fourth of July Grand Marshal.

Richardson said he is honored to represent Chesaw as the Grand Marshal this year and asks everyone to come join in the fun July 4.

Born in the Skagit Valley, Richardson spent much of his childhood years hunting, fishing and camping with his family in the Chesaw and Bonaparte areas. He told the rodeo club that there are many fond memories and stories about those times.

At 17-years-old he went to Alaska salmon fishing for several seasons and attended college during the winter months. The Vietnam conflict was in full swing and Richardson was proud to serve in the U.S. Army for three years and was honorably discharged in Anchorage, Alaska. He then went to work in offshore oil and gas exploration where he remained until purchasing his own business Glenn’s Sandlake Texaco.

While in Alaska he had two children, Tod and Audra. He remained in Alaska diligently building and expanding his business until 1970 when health issues required a change. After searching his heart he decided to move to Chesaw where he had so many warm memories and where he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

He soon became active in the community and began raising horses and cattle, as well as the occassiona chickens and fair pigs for the family. He then went into orcharding and raising alfalfa hay. He also served as Project Manager for the Project manager for the USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Oroville Areawide Project, but in 2000 retired due to health issues. He said the project was close to his heart and gave him a chance to help local orchardists manage their codling moth problems. He still is involved with farming a few head of cattle and, of course, horses.

A founding member of the Molson-Chesaw Fire Department, he served 26 years as a volunteer before retiring as a firefighter. However, Richardson still serves the department as one of the elected Fire Commissioners.

Richard joined the Chesaw Rodeo Club soon after his move to the area. He was an active member throughout the decades, pitching in to get things done and helping whenever there was work to be done. He said it was a community effort and family event that he could believe in.

Over the years Richardson could be seen signing up young people for the calf rides, keeping folks safe while manning the arena entrance gate, helping in the half-pint chutes with the kid’s calf riding or one of the many other jobs that need done prior to and during the rodeo. The rodeo club has been and continues to be an important part of his life in Chesaw.

He and his wife Kim live on Hungry Hallow, a few miles from Chesaw. They have three grandchildren – Kylie and Mandy, who live locally and Ethan, who lives in Bothell, Wash.