2023 Grand Marshal
Clyde Blundell
At this time I’d like to introduce our 2023 Grand Marshal. Today we honor Clyde Blundell for his many years of service to the community. Clyde is a long time member of the Potter Valley Community, and has been involved with the Potter Valley Spring Festival and Rodeo for many years.
Clyde was born and raised in Potter Valley. His family was one of the original pioneers coming to the valley in 1857 and he says his grandchildren are the 7th generation to reside in here. Clyde enjoys farming and ranching and grew up helping his Uncle Jim Eddie work on his Grandmother’s Ranch. He started raking hay when he was eight years old because he says, there wasn’t anybody else to help out. He says his Uncle Jim must have had the patience of a saint to pack around an 8 year old child and try to teach him something. Clyde attended school in Potter Valley until his junior year when the Ukiah School District closed the high school in Potter. After high school, Clyde attended College of the Redwoods majoring in diesel mechanics. Clyde is proudest of being part of a crew that built a “Diesel Powered Stream Liner”, traveling to the Bonneville Salt Flats where they set the land speed record for diesel power at 267 mph. The record stood for the next 46 years and was broken in 2019.
Clyde is a man of many hats. He has worked at farming and ranching, building and remodeling houses with his father and brother He worked in the woods for a short time and spent many years working in the lumber business. Clyde started working for Caltrans in 1999 when the lumber businesses left town. Clyde is now retired and works on his cattle ranch with his family tending their cattle, making hay and repairing his equipment.
Clyde has been involved with the Potter Valley Rodeo Committee for 46 years. In the beginning the rodeo was held as a fundraiser for the Potter Valley Private High School. Clyde was asked to join the committee and immediately became the chairman of the committee when all the other members resigned. Clyde began recruiting friends and neighbors to continue the long tradition of Potter Valley Rodeo on Memorial Day Weekends. During his tenure on the rodeo board he was part of three different moves starting at the Brown Ranch on West Road, to the Busch Creek location and finally to where it sits today downtown. Clyde was instrumental in the acquisition of the Main Street property and was one of the original members of the Potter Valley Community Parks and Recreation. In addition to his volunteer work with the rodeo Clyde also served many years on the Potter Valley Irrigation District Board.
Clyde married his lovely wife and life partner Shareen Hilt in July of 1974. They have three children, Joleen Logan, Carly Carrillo, and Andrew Blundell and six grandchildren. Clyde and his wife instilled a strong work ethic in their children along with a passion for their community.
The Rodeo Committee would like to thank you Clyde for your many years of service to the Potter Valley Rodeo. You are one of the reasons we are here today and that this event has become a great success!