See the 2009 Willits Frontier Days Program

COLOR COVER In Loving Memory of… Don Norred was a long time Florence Elizabeth Persico Colleen Smith was a member resident of Willits and a Willits Frontier became an integral part of the Willits of the Board and past Treasurer for the Days Volunteer. Don served on the Board Frontier Days Celebration in 1935 when Willits Frontier Days Association. of Directors from 1980 to 1989, Vice she married Leandro “Dink” Persico. At the President, and was the Heritage Award time Dink was a member of the Frontier A charter member of the Soroptimist Club, Recipient in 2003. Days Board of Directors. Colleen helped run the Willits Frontier Days Sweetheart contest. She and her hus- Don became a volunteer when his Early on Florence competed and won band Perry Smith were an important part employer Lee Persico of Persico Fossil one of the horse races that was held on of the Willits Frontier Days organization Fuels told him his employment was the track during the rodeo. She went on for many years and were later honored as contingent upon his volunteering with to show and win her share of the horse Parade Grand Marshals. the Willits Frontier Days Association. show and track events, and served as track That condition of employment was not events Secretary for many years. After she passed away, Past President only of great benefit to the Frontier Days Chuck Persico fondly recalled, “Colleen re- Association, but also to the people who Florence’s sons Lee & Chuck performed ally stepped up and did a great job for the got to know Don. trick riding at many fairs and rodeos on organization when nobody else would.” the west coast. Both later went on to Don was a big part of important projects serve as Frontier Days President. Florence We were so fortunate to have Colleen as a like the removal of the racetrack, was the grandmother of three Frontier member of the Willits Frontier Days family installation of the arena lights, planning Days Sweethearts—Kathy, Elizabeth, and and she will always be missed. and construction of the pens, arena Nicole. Her grandson Michael competed in fencing, and so many others. To those bull riding on the professional rodeo cir- of us who had the privilege and honor cuit for many years. Florence was honored of knowing Don, working with him was as the Heritage Award recipient in 1990. something truly special. Florence attended every Frontier Days Don always took time to help mentor the Celebration from 1935 to 2008, and youth of the association—teaching them opened the festivities for many years sing- how to weld and operate equipment and ing the National Anthem. This will be the what it meant to work hard and have fun first year Florence won’t be sitting in her doing it. box seat, and she will certainly be missed, but we all know she will be watching over As the Frontier Days celebration grows us from above making sure we’re doing it and moves forward, we will always take right and staying healthy, fair, honest and time to remember an old friend, and know safe. that the time he spent with Frontier Days Q was special and that the same dedication Florence will always be in our hearts and Don had continues on to this Day. memories and will remain a historic part of the Willits Frontier Days Celebration! We will truly miss our friend. 2 3 President’s Message Heritage Award Recipient We truly live in a special community. Once again during tough times the community is working together with the common goal Claudia Smith Hill to build a new state-of-the-art hospital. A long-time resident of the Willits Every year on the 4th of July she said, “you Eighty-three years later, the Willits Past Presidents Community, Claudia met her first hus- feel like a kid again.” band, Bige in College. Bige’s family owned Frontier Days celebration has grown into Dale Briggs The annual celebration became quite per- an essential part of our community, and it timber property in Mendocino County Kent Standley and they arrived here to build a mill in the sonal when her daughter Margaret Smith says a lot about who we are today. participated and was crowned Willits Kathy Goss community. A “city girl,” Claudia was a The Willits Frontier Days members, who little skeptical of what a small town com- Frontier Days Sweetheart in 1971. volunteer so much, come from all walks of Richard White munity would offer. Seven decades later, Through her years with the Willits News life and from as far away as Arizona. The Jim Jennings she does not regret the decision to move she enjoyed sorting through hundreds of most important lesson handed down from and raise her family here. pictures of kids riding their animals and the past is how important it is not to just Jack Tharp pictures of the winners. live in a community but to be a part of it. The busy mother of three children (Mark, The Willits Frontier Days volunteers not Ralph Baker Ken and Margaret), Claudia worked out- For Claudia, Willits Frontier Days “brings only work diligently to put on the Frontier Dennis Rohrs side the home before most women of the the community together, coming from all Days celebration, but you will see them time. A college journalism graduate, she walks of life.” participating in many other community Logan Anker first worked at the Willits School District functions throughout the year. I tip my hat as well as volunteering to write articles The Heritage Award is awarded each year Rick Crowder for the local paper. Little did she know she to an individual, group or business that President Chris White to each and every one of these volunteers who I call my friends and say, “Thank you.” Harold Jorgenson would put her journalism skills to work full contributes to the annual success of Willits Claudia Smith Hill is the recipient of time with the Willits News – ending up as Frontier Days. The award is sponsored Being a part of the Willits Frontier Chuck Persico the 2009 Willits Frontier Days Heritage a co-owner with the Burton’s, Lewis’ and by the Harrah Family in memory of R.E. Days organization, and now serving as Dr. Raymond Babcock Award. Doug Goss, Chairman of the Alf Olsen. As Editor of the Willits News, “Bob” Harrah. Hello and Welcome, President, is an honor and privilege. I have Heritage Award Committee announced the her writing skills were often called upon by met some very special people and have the volunteers of Willits Frontier Days to As President, and on behalf of the Willits Lee Persico award recently at a Willits Frontier Days learned so much from so many. I can’t author many of the articles for the annual Frontier Days Association, I want to Meeting. begin to say how fortunate I am. Above Louis Zanella celebration. personally welcome you to the home of everything else, I still love the excitement Honored for her years of support as a California’s “oldest continuous rodeo,” and Galen Hathaway and anticipation of what it’s all about— representative of the Willits News, Claudia Claudia’s early memories of Willits the 83rd Annual Willits Frontier Days 4th the rodeos, parade, barbeque, and seeing Merrill Williams frequently volunteered to write the news Frontier Days were its colors, the parade, c of July Celebration. the carnival going up. I can’t help but laugh Kenneth Jamieson release articles for Willits Frontier Days. horses, rodeo and, of course, the carnival. I often think about history and how it a little remembering how excited I got has a way of repeating itself. In 1926 when the carnival came to town. Now I see Gus Goren when Frontier Days began, our country kids flock to the carnival, and share their Mel Clatty and our community were going through excitement as it opens. Past Heritage Award Winners some tough times of their own. Instead Frank Whitney The Willits Frontier Days celebration has 1977 Leandro “Dink” 1993 Jack Tharp of hunkering down, people came together been a place where friends and family Faris Whitney Persico 1994 Chuck Persico with the common goal to build a hospital. come together to remember the old times 1978 Harold Jorgenson 1996 Little Lake Fire In order to build the hospital, they came and to celebrate our small town’s heritage 1979 Logan Anker Department up with an idea to start a community and traditions. Whether this is your first 1980 Don Coleman 1997 George & Jane Akins celebration that included a rodeo — which time to the Willits Frontier Days celebra- 1981 Virginia Ciancio 1998 Jimmy Nyhen & Russ continues to this day! tion, or are an old timer, you will have a 1982 Grace & Ralph Oakley Although a lot has changed over the great 4th of July experience. It’s my sincere Laswell 1999 Fred Page years and we have all been through tough hope you and your families leave with the 1981 George Kincade 2000 Rick Crowder times, the one thing that hasn’t changed same respect that I have for the past, but 1984 Frank Boomer 2001 Johnny Mayer is the community’s commitment to come also take away new memories that will last 1985 The Colli Sisters 2002 Dan Pinon a lifetime. together to achieve a common goal. The 1986 Lee Persico 2003 Don Norred Willits Frontier Days celebration is living 1987 Annette Ciancio 2004 Evelyn Persico proof. Its volunteers have never wavered @ Pinon 2005 Richard & Francee in their commitment to ensure our history Chris White, President 1988 R.E.

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