Pomeroy Chamber Honors

By Melody Tillinghast

POMEROY–The Chamber of Commerce presented John Gates, Jack Peasley, Mark Waldher, James Fuchs, John Hill, and Anne Walsh with the 2023 Hometown Hero awards during the Cowboy Breakfast at Spinner's Hall on September 15, 2024. Also, during Cowboy Breakfast, Bill Cox accepted the Fair Honoree award for the late Terrilie Cox.

The 2023 Lifetime Achievement went to John Gates.

John Gates, born in Lewiston, has been a lifelong resident of Pomeroy. He went to WSU to become a math and history teacher, but upon his father's sudden passing in 1973, returned to his hometown to take over Gates Insurance.

He married Barb in 1974 and this year, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They have four children, Brian (Naomi) Gates, Katie Gates, Angie (Brian) Mabry, and Jeff Gates. They also have two granddaughters, Adleigh, and Charis Gates.

John began coaching Little League Baseball when he was 16 years old; little did he know it would lead to many, many years of summer coaching, and with the Pomeroy School District. John feels very fortunate he was able to coach all his children in different sports and levels. A highlight for him was coaching Katie and Angie in softball at the 1996 state tournament.

He began announcing the Pomeroy Pirate football games in the fall of 1967 and the basketball games a few years later. John has always enjoyed being the "Voice of the Pomeroy Pirates" as well as watching all the athletes over the years.

As the owner of Gates Insurance, he was able to serve their customers over 44 years, and always helped in any way. He feels extremely lucky to have grown up in Pomeroy, raise his wonderful family, and be of service to so many friends and customers here. "To be a business owner in a small town, you have to be available after hours and be ready to volunteer when needed," said John. There is no doubt that he has been there for many of us in this community throughout the years.

John is deeply treasured for his lifetime of commitment to the community of Pomeroy. The impact is far-reaching, and appreciated by generations of hometown youth and adults.

Jack Peasley was awarded the 2023 Citizen of the Year.

Jack was born and raised in Pomeroy, graduating in 1976 from Pomeroy High School. From here, he went to Eastern Washington University (EWU) in Cheney. He then went on to work as a teacher and coach, before becoming principal at Quincy High School. Throughout that time, Jack raised two kids, Cody (31) and Nia (25). Nia is now in her last year as a student at Central Washington University and Cody is an administrator at the Eastmont School District. Cody now has three children, making Jack a grandpa.

Jack and his brother Gary, along with a good friend, Dennis Wernecke, purchased five acres of land from Klaveanos in 1999 which included the Central Ferry Store and RV Park. They opened their hunting club, Deadman Creek Outfitters, which is what ultimately brought Jack back to Pomeroy. He started working at Lewis Clark State College (LCSC) in Lewiston in 2006. He and his wife Rachel purchased a house in Pomeroy and he commuted, until his retirement in 2014. In 2016 he began working for the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA).

Along with working his regular job and running the hunting club, Jack is an avid hunter and fisherman and loves boating. He volunteers with 2nd Harvest and was recently elected mayor of Pomeroy. Out of everything he has done over the years, his favorites are going to EWU football games with his wife Rachel and going to Gonzaga basketball games with his daughter Nia, a regular event that has been happening since Nia was nine years old.

Jack feels his biggest accomplishment was during Covid when he was asked to take on rural Whitman County as part of his work with SEWEDA. He said that helping the small communities work through the paperwork and difficulties that arose during those times was very rewarding. Jack also mentioned that during his years at LCSC, he started Kids College, a four-week program for elementary school-age students. This program gave kids opportunities to learn and participate in activities such as archery, face painting, Lego engineering, cake decorating, etc. Due to Jack's passion for the project, it was a very successful program for many years.

As Mayor of Pomeroy, Jack is ready for new adventures, and even though he has spent much of his life right here, he still enjoys getting out and seeing people in Pomeroy, his hometown. He encourages all residents, especially those who are newer to the community, to go for walks, golf (if that's something you enjoy), and shop and explore the local businesses. Among his many hopes and dreams for the community is that we can "give everyone a voice and make it possible to take the opportunity."

Jack, we are grateful you returned to your hometown, and for being a good example of civic engagement and inspiring that in others.

The 2023 Mark Waldher Volunteer of the Year was presented to Ryan Grant.

Ryan's parents and older siblings moved to Pomeroy in the 1960s when Lower Granite Dam was being built. Ryan's dad was a contractor who worked at the dam. Ryan's Grandma Myrtle already lived here, and the family was happy to join her in the neighborhood on 13th Street.

Ryan was born in Room No. 7 at the local hospital with LaDonna Crawford (Stallcop) in attendance. He graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1985 and later completed a Fire Science degree at Spokane Community College. Ryan began his career in firefighting at Deer Park Fire District No. 4, where he started as an intern. He worked there until he moved back to his hometown to help take care of his mother. It was that move which set him up for a long and rewarding career with the United States Forest Service (USFS).

He believes living in a small town is great. "The people here, the job was a great fit," said Ryan. "I couldn't have asked for a better script than that!" Because of to special assignments and being sent to fires all over the country, he has gotten to travel a lot. For that he credits Pomeroy Ranger District Rangers, Monte Fujishin and Susan Piper. We think that Ryan's deep respect for the work, along with his fierce dedication and work ethic probably made it an easy decision for them.

His volunteering days started as a student at the Pomeroy School District. His dad, Johnny Grant, was the custodian, and Ryan spent many hours sweeping up popcorn from the bleachers, mopping floors, and vacuuming. Because of this, he was careful not to leave a mess behind when he was attending school during the day! Johnny had a heart for quietly volunteering and that is something that Ryan watched and learned from as he grew up. If Johnny saw that an elderly person needed some weeding or yard work done, he would just go do it and never say a word to anyone. From this, Ryan also gained a heart for volunteering.

Although Ryan retired from the USFS last year, he is currently contracted to work the Cougar Creek Fire. When he's not "officially" working, he's volunteering all over town. When Muriel Bott needs help moving something heavy at the Garfield County Museum, Ryan shows up on a Friday afternoon and works with all the volunteers at the museum. He volunteers with 2nd Harvest, the Garfield County Food Bank, the Community Garden, and SoleKids, just to name a few. Soon, he plans to work with Cody Jones at the Seeley Theater and help Kris Klaveano with downtown beautification. Ryan believes the key to being a true volunteer is, "It doesn't matter the age, if someone needs help, just jump in and go do it."

Ryan, we acknowledge you for your volunteer spirit and sharing your many gifts within the community of Pomeroy.

The 2023 Employee of the Year was awarded to James Fuchs.

James was born in Pomeroy in November 1972 to Richard and Bea Fuchs. He left briefly to go to college at Walla Walla Community College in Clarkston. He returned to his hometown to work and raise a family. James has two daughters, Shelby (28) and Natalie (18).

He sees Pomeroy as a quiet and cozy community that is a great place to raise a family and is happy to stay here for his work and family.

James said he is honored to have been chosen as the Community Award recipient for Employee of the Year! He has two jobs and we have heard he is treasured by both employers. His primary job is as the custodian at the Pomeroy School District, where he has been employed for 21 years. He applied for that position to better himself and better support his family. His favorite part of being the custodian is the interaction with the kids and seeing the art work that is posted on the boards in the hallway.

James second job is for the Garfield County Transportation Authority (GCTA), where he has been employed for 29 years. In 1995, Jan Zorb and Dean Burton approached James and asked if he would like to be a driver for a new service that was being offered in the community. He accepted, and the rest is history. Many local seniors report that if James is the driver, you know he'll take good care of you. James' favorite part of working at GCTA is being able to help the elderly get to and from appointments, shopping, and from the meal-site at the Senior Center. James admits that he just likes to help anyone in the community.

He also has a heart to serve his community and was a member of the Pomeroy City Council for 24 years. In 1999 he was encouraged to run for council to help the people of Pomeroy the best way he could, and James said he would like to believe he did his best.

James wishes to recognized the community for the honor of being your Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Year.

We are grateful to James, for his work at Pomeroy School District and Garfield County Transportation, as well as the many years you served as a member of city council. Your work ethic and dedication to your community is much appreciated.

2023 Business of the Year is the Pomeroy Food Center, John Hill.

Jason Hill was born in Central Washington and raised in a very small town in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain range. He traveled throughout the United States, working and living in states from Alaska to Texas and almost everywhere in between.

In August 2022, Jason decided to go into business with his family and they purchased the grocery store in Pomeroy. Since he had never been in the retail business, he wasn't sure that a new career path, along with a new town was the right move, especially since Pomeroy is larger than any town he's lived in. However, after visiting the first time, he had a change of heart.

Jason was immediately drawn to the people here, as well as the history of Pomeroy. Not only did he fall in love with the community and the surrounding area, but he found the love of his life, Lindsay Lundquist. Jason's hope was to find a place to settle down and establish roots, and in just two short years, he has done just that. He and Lindsay plan to continue to run the store as well as raise a family here, in their forever home.

He and his family recognized Pomeroy as an extremely special town filled with upstanding residents who are loyal to, and take pride, in their community. Their first goal was to bring that "small-town community feel" into the store. They recognized the need for a more personalized shopping experience and are working to accommodate the needs of the community. With limited funding and no big corporate support, it can be difficult to maintain high levels of service. "With a town like Pomeroy, and the incredible support it brings, it is all worth it," said Jason.

He encourages anyone who might be considering starting a business here to embrace the people of the community and all the wonderful organizations that make it great.

We appreciate Jason and family for thoughtfulness in listening to the needs of the community. The customer-friendly service and the support you provide through donations and sponsorships is so appreciated. We are so grateful that you chose to make Pomeroy your hometown.

The 2023 Special Award: Visionary Stewardship, goes to Anne Walsh.

Anne moved to Walla Walla from Idaho in 2001, then moved to Waitsburg in 2006 with her husband, two sons, and their "furry critters." She began her work in Pomeroy in 2007 when Puget Sound Energy (PSE) became involved with constructing and operating the Lower Snake River Wind Facility. Her position title at PSE is Senior Wind Resource Advisor. Her role is to support the development, construction, and operation teams in Garfield and Columbia County in several ways, including: project permitting and compliance, safety program development and training, emergency response planning, wildlife, weed control, revegetation, and water management program development, and best of all- community and landowner relations.

Anne has worked for PSE for nearly 20 years. Although she lives in Waitsburg, she realized the best way to connect to the citizen of Pomeroy was to give time, get to know people by being a volunteer and by participating in community projects. "I personally love being a volunteer working side by side with community-minded people, learning and sharing our ideas and experiences from living in rural communities," said Walsh.

The Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce was struggling with membership and organization at the time Anne began her work in Pomeroy. She was instrumental in rejuvenating the chamber and is still a vital member of the board today. "I believe healthy businesses generate vibrant communities," she said. Some of the projects she has been very involved with over the years include: the Cowboy Breakfast, Community Economic Forum, Main Street flower baskets, Chamber Community Awards, Chamber auctions, and the Main Street Wayfinder Signage Project, which she spearheaded. This project will add attractive, cohesive signage throughout the Main Street corridor. Signs will indicate the direction of sites such as: the museum, library, Spinners Maple Hall, Pomeroy City Hall, schools, football field, golf course, etc. This project was unfortunately delayed due to Covid, supply chain issues, cost-increase of supplies, etc. Due to Anne's continued work and dedication to the project, installation should take place this fall.

Among Anne's hope and dreams for the future of Pomeroy is continuing with the Main Street beautification projects to encourage Highway 12 travelers to stop and explore charming Pomeroy and spend a few dollars to benefit local businesses. She has many projects in mind, such as upgrading the Lewis and Clark exhibit located at the base of the hospital property, large ground-standing flower pots along Main Street and developing walking tour brochures that spotlight the wonderful features of Pomeroy. The walking tour brochures could showcase the City Park gazebo, museums, the Pataha Flour Mill, and the histories of Pomeroy's unique neon signs and giants-collection. All are noteworthy and interesting features of Pomeroy, and learning more about them would enhance a traveler's experience.

She truly enjoys and loves the care and concern Pomeroy citizens have for their community and their focus on the youth, super seniors, schools, and hospital. She believes all of these are key aspects of a healthy community. Anne has continued working in Pomeroy because of all the wonderful people that she gets to interact and work with here. "They are so passionate and care about keeping their community alive and thriving," she said. "Pomeroy is a very important community to me because the people are warm and friendly, it has so many assets and it offers many opportunities to grow local businesses, start new businesses and be a home for new families, yet retain its charm, agricultural traditions and welcoming character."

Brava Anne, for bringing your vision to Pomeroy, and dedicating so much of your time and energy here. Your efforts will be seen and appreciated for many years to come.

--Edited by Charlotte Baker