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| Saturday, May 29, 2010 ~ Monday, May 31, 2010 |
| POTTER VALLEY RODEO |
| 2010 Grand Marshall |
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| Potter Valley Community Expo, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) Non-profit organization. All rights reserved. All content copyright © 2010 Potter Valley Community Expo, Inc. Photos courtesy of: Bruce Hatch & Juliet Grace |
Larry
Thornton
Thornton
The Thornton Family is a relative newcomer to Potter Valley arriving in 1913. I arrived in 1944. I went to 12 years of
school in Potter Valley and then onto Chico State University graduating in 1962 with a degree in business
administration/accounting. Wearing a suit and sitting in an office did not suit me so I quit my job working for an accounting
firm and returned to Potter Valley to be close to my family and farming.
While in college I married my high school sweetheart Judy Dycus and had three sons, Rick, Dan, and Randy. Rick is
married to Nancy and they have two children, Rachael and Tyler. Dan is married to Mary and they have two children,
Justin and Hailey. Randy is married to My and they have two children, Amber and Trevor.
Being unemployed after graduation and our family farm not large enough to support three families, I took a temporary job as
an agricultural pest control advisor with Moyer Chemical Co. for thirteen years. This job allowed me to meet most of the
growers in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties and this interaction with these farmers was instrumental in my approach
to farming to this day.
In 1967, I became secretary-treasurer of the Potter Valley Irrigation District, serving for 15 years. In 1972, I became a
board member of the California Tree Fruit Agreement, a state marketing order, serving on behalf of the pear growers for 35
years.
In 1970 I started my farming venture, a partnership with Frank and Polly Branson, planting the first vineyard in the valley
beating John March, Don Farnsworth, and Ron Hunter by a few weeks. I then started leasing and buying orchards until I
was farming 250 acres of pears along with my son Dan.
In 1973 I took over Jim Eddie’s position on the Ukiah Unified School District Board when Jim was elected to the County
Board of Supervisors. Along with many dedicated community members we were able to deunify from Ukiah Unified and
start our own school, later becoming the Potter Valley Community Unified School District. I served on the initial school
board, meeting weekly until we got the school up and running. During those years the school and the spring festival were
very closely tied.
Judy and I presently are involved in a major undertaking of renovating the Thornton family home that my grandfather built
in 1918. We are hoping to be moved in by this fall.
From the Potter Valley Community Expo, Inc Board: Approximately 37 years ago Larry Thornton was part of a significant
group of residents who foresaw the importance of a public education system in Potter Valley. Our current school district is
a direct result of the many years of hard work and perseverance that they put forth on behalf of our community. During
this critical time of hardship for California’s schools it is important to realize the level of commitment necessary to continue
protecting an asset brought to us by these devoted individuals. Our Board wishes to extend our gratitude and appreciation
to Larry Thornton and look forward to securing a strong future for Potter Valley Community Unified School District.
school in Potter Valley and then onto Chico State University graduating in 1962 with a degree in business
administration/accounting. Wearing a suit and sitting in an office did not suit me so I quit my job working for an accounting
firm and returned to Potter Valley to be close to my family and farming.
While in college I married my high school sweetheart Judy Dycus and had three sons, Rick, Dan, and Randy. Rick is
married to Nancy and they have two children, Rachael and Tyler. Dan is married to Mary and they have two children,
Justin and Hailey. Randy is married to My and they have two children, Amber and Trevor.
Being unemployed after graduation and our family farm not large enough to support three families, I took a temporary job as
an agricultural pest control advisor with Moyer Chemical Co. for thirteen years. This job allowed me to meet most of the
growers in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties and this interaction with these farmers was instrumental in my approach
to farming to this day.
In 1967, I became secretary-treasurer of the Potter Valley Irrigation District, serving for 15 years. In 1972, I became a
board member of the California Tree Fruit Agreement, a state marketing order, serving on behalf of the pear growers for 35
years.
In 1970 I started my farming venture, a partnership with Frank and Polly Branson, planting the first vineyard in the valley
beating John March, Don Farnsworth, and Ron Hunter by a few weeks. I then started leasing and buying orchards until I
was farming 250 acres of pears along with my son Dan.
In 1973 I took over Jim Eddie’s position on the Ukiah Unified School District Board when Jim was elected to the County
Board of Supervisors. Along with many dedicated community members we were able to deunify from Ukiah Unified and
start our own school, later becoming the Potter Valley Community Unified School District. I served on the initial school
board, meeting weekly until we got the school up and running. During those years the school and the spring festival were
very closely tied.
Judy and I presently are involved in a major undertaking of renovating the Thornton family home that my grandfather built
in 1918. We are hoping to be moved in by this fall.
From the Potter Valley Community Expo, Inc Board: Approximately 37 years ago Larry Thornton was part of a significant
group of residents who foresaw the importance of a public education system in Potter Valley. Our current school district is
a direct result of the many years of hard work and perseverance that they put forth on behalf of our community. During
this critical time of hardship for California’s schools it is important to realize the level of commitment necessary to continue
protecting an asset brought to us by these devoted individuals. Our Board wishes to extend our gratitude and appreciation
to Larry Thornton and look forward to securing a strong future for Potter Valley Community Unified School District.