TOWN OF EL PASO – The honorary citizens for the 36^th annual El Paso Days parade are longtime residents Terry and Sandy Odalen, along with former Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove, who will serve as grand marshal.

As is usually the case with grand marshals, the Odalens are humbled by the honor and shrug off any praise. They learned of the honor about a month ago when their son told them they’d been chosen.

El Paso Community Club member Merlin Blaisdell said the Odalens were chosen for their lifelong connection to the small community along the Rush River. The club selected Hove due to her dedication to serving the community, plus her joy of celebrating El Paso Days.

“We try to find people who have lived in the community for years and we try to bring the spotlight to them a little bit,” Blaisdell said.

Terry was born at home in El Paso Township and attended Iverson School for eight years, located north of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. He was the last one to graduate from Iverson School before moving on to Ellsworth High School. He said he was also in the last graduating class at the old high school, before the current one was built. His dad Arnold served on the Pierce County Board and El Paso Town Board.

Sandy attended school in El Paso for four years before heading to Sunnyside Elementary, then Ellsworth High School. They grew up about a mile to a half-mile apart. The pair and Blaisdell laughed as they recalled Sandy purchasing a 1966 Ford Mustang, burgundy with a black vinyl roof.

“I got a job at Smead’s (in River Falls) in July,” Sandy recalled. “I bought it for $3,000. Burgundy with a black vinyl roof and a stick. I guess I thought it was cool. I ordered it, didn’t just buy it off the lot.”

Blaisdell said when people saw the car, they thought, “Somebody in El Paso has really made it now.”

After the Odalens married, they lived for two years on County Road OO before building their house in El Paso Township. They’ve lived in the town for the better part of 70 years. They’re the proud parents of three children: Shannon, Nathan and Tricia, plus eight grandkids and one great grandchild.

Terry worked for 3M for around 35 years as a quality control supervisor. Sandy did daycare for neighborhood kids for many years until their kids were in a lot of sports. She also worked at Helmer Printing for almost 30 years as a jack-of-all-trades.

Terry was a member of the West El Paso Horseshoe Club for years, as well as a member of the Old A-holes Club. He chuckled as he recalled gathering in the El Paso Bar basement every Tuesday night with Rick Foley, Roger Laughnan and Jim Foley to play euchre. The bartender gave them a hard time.

“There was quite the laughter,” Blaisdell said of the quartet. “They’d call you a name if you euchred them or didn’t play right, which happened quite frequently.”

The Odalens served on multiple church committees at Our Savior’s and taught Sunday School. Sandy also played volleyball for the Lawton Ladybugs.

“When I was younger and could move a little faster,” she smiled.

The pair also enjoyed snowmobiling with their children in their younger days.

“Tricia would be sitting in front of me and Nathan would be behind me,” Terry said. “Tricia would fall asleep before I left the ground.”

Some of their favorite memories revolved around El Paso parades. A favorite float was a replica of St. Joseph’s Church, with people sitting in the windows drinking Old Milwaukee as “communion.”

Blaisdell reminded Terry of the horseshoe club’s penchant for “cross country skiing” in the parade on skis that were many feet long.

“People would get their feet mixed up and you couldn’t get going right,” Terry said. “Oh, it was fun.”

Besides the parade, their favorite event is the Cow Float down the Rush. They love to attend it with their grandchildren, Sandy said. People can buy a rubber cow for $10; the cows are thrown in the river and the winner is the first cow to make it from one bridge to another. The money raised goes to the El Paso Community Crisis Fund, which helps El Paso families in need. Last year 320 cows were sold.

“Ten years ago we had a huge flood the week before El Paso Days,” Blaisdell said. “The water was as high as it’s ever been, maybe as high as in ’65. A Wiff from Martell, his cows were in the pasture to the east of the farm (near the Martell Town Hall) and 33 cows were swept into the Rush River. When they got to the bridge in El Paso, they went under the bridge and their heads were underwater.”

Of those 33 cows, only one died. The cow float is in memory of that event.

People can purchase El Paso Days hats and shirts at the El Paso Bar & Grill.

“We have shirts all over the house,” Sandy said. “It keeps reminding you of where you’re from.”

The El Paso Community Club is free to join and consists of 10-15 members..

“We’ve been so fortunate to have good people,” Blaisdell said. “When someone can’t do it anymore, then someone else steps up.”

The Odalens will lead the grand parade through downtown El Paso at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20.

“It will be fun, seeing all the people we know,” Sandy said.

“I think it’s the only place to live, El Paso,” Terry added.

El Paso Days event highlights

Friday

Pony Pull, 5-9 p.m., Adolph’s Log Cabin Bar

The Mockingbirds, dinner at 5:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m., El Paso Bar & Grill banquet room. Tickets are $35, pre-sale only at El Paso Bar. Space is limited.

P&S We Love You Karaoke, 9 p.m. to midnight, El Paso Bar & Grill

Saturday

Millie Christopherson/Ivo Schlegel Memorial Breakfast, 7:30-11 a.m., El Paso Bar & Grill. Funds go to El Paso Community Club Crisis Fund. Serving scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, pure maple syrup, toast, orange juice, milk and coffee

12^th annual Shine & Show Car Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., $5 entry fee. Dash plaque, door prizes and music at Adolph’s Log Cabin Bar.

Lawrence N. Pasch Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, 10 a.m., El Paso Bar & Grill

ATV Ride, 11 a.m., leave from dead end, south of Adolph’s Log Cabin Bar. Music after

Third annual Rhiannon Anderson Memorial Horse Trail Ride, 11:30 a.m., leave from Adolph’s Log Cabin Bar. Music after

Adolph Johnson Memorial Horse Pull, presented by Midwest Farmers Horse Pulling Association, at noon at Adolph’s Log Cabin Bar

Bean Bag Tournament, 2 p.m., El Paso Bar & Grill

Pedal Tractor Association Pull, 4 p.m., free event

12^th annual Cow Float Race, 7 p.m., buy your cow for $10 at El Paso Bar & Grill

Live music by “Delta Papas,” 7-11 p.m., El Paso Bar & Grill

Sunday

Randy Christopherson Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, 10 a.m., El Paso Bar & Grill.

Ecumenical Worship Service, 11:45 a.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery

Grand Parade, 2 p.m., downtown El Paso

Greased Pig Contest, 3 p.m., Adolph’s Log Cabin Bar

Live music from “The Groove Kings,” 3:30-8:30 p.m., El Paso Bar & Grill