History of the Amador County Fair Board
Harold Colburn presided over the first Board of Directors,
and held the position of
President for some twenty years, then continued on as a member of the
Board until
his retirement in 1985, a total of forty-seven years of service. In the
early days,
Harold used to get on the old crank two-piece phone and call the Governor’s
office
direct, and the Governor would answer! They would then discuss board member
appointments and finances for the fair.
Many community leaders have served on the Board of Directors, appointed
by the
Governor to serve 4 year terms. Included in the list of those who have
served are
Martin Lubenko; Ben Sanguinetti; I. P. Ostrom; Sam Bonneau; Al Dickerson;
Lester Wheeler; John Yager; Charles Winter; E. J. Votaw; Archie Fancher;
Walter Steiner; Loren Bamert; Elias Day; Johnny Manassero; Bob Cooper;
Sharkey Begovich; Lewis C. Yager; Fred Geis; Lucian Vaira; Leslie Pantle;
Fred Spruance; Miss Louise Hall; John Huberty; Frank Berry; Sheldon Rodman;
Roy E. Mason, DVM; Janice Taylor Howard; Norman Dal Porto; Sandra Strohm;
Don Whitney; Libby Littlefield; Gary Arnese; David Mason III; Hap Evans;
Marlene Linn; Verna Bowman; James Graves; Richard Forster; Sandra Frey;
Jeannie Deaver; Stephen Zalkind and the present Board is Tim King,
Charles Simmons, Frank Halvorson, Michael Boitano, Ciro Toma, Robert Manassero,
Marilyn Hoopes, Janice Taylor Howard, and Connie Mason.
(Picture: First Fair held on
site of current Plymouth
Elementary Playground)
The day to day management of the Fair has been provided
by a surprisingly small
number of people. Jim Loyd was the named manager when the Board was formed
in 1938 with Ruth Cooper serving as Secretary. Goula Waite managed the
Fair in
1941 and intermittently until 1954 when she was permanently appointed
to serve
as Secretary-Manager until 1965. She then she accepted the position of
Exhibit
Supervisor for the State of California, traveling to all the Fairs to
audit their
premium records and casting fear into the hearts of all entry clerks.
During her tenure at the Amador County Fair she scoured
the countryside to gather
the pieces of history used in the construction of Frontier Town. The beveled
glass
window, the marble barber sink, the spectacular breakfront are all the
results of
her efforts. Her creative talents are responsible for the layout of the
Fairgrounds
which are ideal in terms of pedestrian traffic, vendor access and livestock
and
carnival needs. Her friendship with Evelyn Bishop gave the Fair a consummate
volunteer who tended the flowers, oversaw the Junior Building exhibits,
promoted
4-H throughout the County, and established the standard for landscaping
that
continues to delight Fair patrons today. Evelyn gave of her time until
the age of 90
when she finally retired. Although she departed this life in 1993, those
who knew
her well will tell you that stepping in the flower beds or wading in “Evelyn’s
Pond”
can still bring down her wrath.
Louise Hall, Home Economics teacher at Amador High School and long time
member
of the Board of Directors, was also extremely instrumental in the promotion
of still
exhibits for both adults and youth. Miss Hall’s legacy continues
at the Fair and
throughout the community in the volunteer spirit which makes the Amador
County
Fair so special.
Standing left to right:
Martin Lubenko, Carelton
Winter, Al Dickson, John
Yager, and Jake Roos
Seated left to right:
Lester Wheeler, Harold
Colburn (Chairman),
Ruth Cooper (Secretary
& mother of subequent
manager Dick Cooper),
Jim Loyd (Manager),
Sam Bonneau, and
I.P. Ostrom
the event through 1971. His interest in antique equipment can be seen today
during the Fair in the actual operation of the Saw Mill which he acquired. Dick
today is a well recognized member of the Shenandoah Valley wine grape growers
and vintners, participating in the Friday night Wine Tasting. His winery has garnered
an award winning reputation, an accomplishment he can add to his standing as a
band leader, renown in the area.
Pete Scott accepted the position in 1972 bringing his extensive creative talents.
The architectural facet was manifest in the original Wine Garden, a unique facility
for a Fair, as well as the covered bridge, the “old well” drinking fountains, and the
rustic Main Gate facade. The artist gift can be seen in the varied and distinctive
posters produced by his hand. When he left in 1977 he took a position at the
California State Fair where he continued to create unusual and provocative exhibits.
Ralph Clark followed in 1978 serving as Chief Executive Officer until his retirement
at the end of 2004. During his management of 27 Fairs, he encouraged and facilitated
community participation, the level of which is envied by all of California’s small Fairs.
As a nationally recognized cattle judge, he was able to generated significant interim
use of the Fairgrounds by the Livestock Stock community, bringing many shows and
sales to the County. During his term, he served on the Board of Western Fairs
Association, an organization established to protect and promote the Fair industry
in the West. He was elected to the organizations presidency in 1989 and inducted
into their Hall of Fame in 2003 for his distinguished service and leadership in the
Fair Industry.
Director Ciro Toma, first appointed to the Amador County Fair Board of Directors in
1974 has also been so honored by the Western Fairs Association, serving as their
President in 2001 and joining the Hall of Fame in 2004. He is only the second Board
member to hold the position.
All of the members of the Board have given their time and talents and energy to the
Fair, helping secure its position as a cherished element of the County. They continue
to do so.
