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Grand Marshal

2023 Grand Marshal - Dave Garrett

Dave Garrett
For 75 years, Dave Garrett has been a part of the Best Week of Summer. He started as an avid rodeo fan as a teenager and became a volunteer in the early 1950s and still serves as one today. With 75 Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeos under his belt, Dave has seen the annual bi-county Fair and Rodeo grow and mature into the amazing five-day event it is today.

Dave was born in 1930 and moved to Kennewick at age 5 to a property now known as Columbia Park. Following graduation from Kennewick High School, he married his wife, Christine. Together they purchased a horse, and Dave joined the Sheriff’s Posse. Dave is the longest serving member of the Benton Franklin Mounted Sheriff’s Posse.

In the beginning, the Sheriff’s Posse was the rodeo’s sponsoring organization, and the event was known as the Tumbleweed Rodeo. In 1982, the Benton Franklin Fair Association took over the annual rodeo and a contest was held to name the rodeo, and it became the Horse Heaven Round-Up. During these years, Dave continued to volunteer as part of the Sheriff’s Posse security team and as a member of the Top Hands. Dave and Christine volunteered as the chaperones for the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo Royalty from the mid-1950s through 1990.

Dave’s daughters Deborah, Paula, and Toni are former exhibitors and have volunteered in many capacities to support the annual event. Keeping with family tradition, all eight of his grandchildren and several of his great-grandchildren have participated in 4-H and FFA and volunteered at the Fair and Rodeo.

Dave competed well into his 80s and escorted the visiting royalty on horseback in the Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo opening ceremonies. You will not be surprised that Dave continues to volunteer with the Sheriff’s Posse today at the age of 93!

The annual Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo is truly a Garrett family tradition. We thank Dave for sharing his time, talents, and family with us, so that his legacy can continue to make the Best Week of Summer just that!
2022 John and D’Ann Ramsey
2021 Frontline Healthcare Workers
2019 Rowdy Barry
2018 Lampson International
2017 Ken Hohenberg
2016 Harvey Underwood
2015 Mike Kluse
2014 George Jones
2013 Alice Bennett
2012 Leo Bowman, Benton County Commissioner
2011 Dobie & Julie Burns
2010 Ross Family
2009 Neva Corkrum
2008 Dress Family
2007 Rich Brooks
2006 Scott Smiley
2005 Bill & Betty Kelly
2004 Bill Beck (honorary)
2003 Ed Dailey
2002 Ed Stevens
2001 Helen Lizotte
2000 Robert & Lois Andrewjeski
1999 Valoria Loveland
1998 Posse
1997 Ray Isaacson
1996 Dick Moore
1995 Jerry "Butch" Van Hollebeke
1994 Bob Woehler
1993 Bill Harrison
1992 Red Rutherford
1991
1990
1989 McGruff the Crime Dog
1988 Charlie Pease
1987 Mickey Mouse
1986
1985
1984 Ruth Simmelink & Family
1983
1982
1981 Ned Morrison
1980
1979
1978 Ronald McDonald
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