Larry Brown named Rathdrum Day grand marshal

There may not be a Rathdrum Days parade this year, but there’s a grand marshal.

Larry Brown will be honored with that title at noon Saturday on the Lakeland High School grounds.

“I’m honored that my family and I will be recognized as longtime residents in part of the Rathdrum Day celebration,” Brown said. “Next year I hope it will be back to Days instead of Day, but I’m not sad about it, it’s just the way we had to do it this year.”

Every summer, the town celebrates with a parade, music, food and activities for kids.

COVID-19, however, threw a wrench into those plans and forced organizers to reduce the annual event from two days to one and cancel many activities.

The Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce and Rathdrum Days Committee was still determined to give residents a reason to get out and celebrate.

Even without a parade, they could have a grand marshal.

That’s where Brown comes in.

He couldn’t be more honored to be selected and represent the good people of Rathdrum.

“It’s just the place I call home, the area we live in, and the community we love,” Brown said. “It’s not hard to get to know everybody, Rathdrum Days is kind of a way to meet new residents and make new friends. I had a great youth growing up in Rathdrum.”

Brown graduated from Lakeland High School in 1969 and studied journalism and education at North Idaho College for two years.

He later accepted a position with the Coca-Cola Company and spent the next 42 years traveling the Northwest and volunteering in his community.

He served on the Rathdrum Planning and Zoning Committee in the 1970s, the Parks and Recreation department shortly after, and was a Lakeland Joint School District board member for 20 years.

Retired, Brown is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather to wife Jane, sons Daniel and Joseph, and grandchildren Augustus, Wyatt, Ben, Adelynn, Ellora, and Vyvvyenne.

Today, Brown continues his service and attends the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

“Being a part of the community is not about stepping up and running things but stepping up to help and make things happen, to accomplish things,” Brown said. “There’s always an avenue to take to volunteer and help with things in the community.”