Jerry Wickham and Carla Stromberg have more than just being married to each other in common. Both of their fathers are serving as grand marshals this year for the Tooele and Grantsville Fourth of July parades.

Jerry’s father, Walt Wickham, is serving as Tooele’s grand marshal, which also includes serving in the Bit N’ Spur Rodeo, and Carla’s father, Charles ‘Chick’ Stromberg, is being honored as Grantsville’s grand marshal.

Carla said it’s such a fun coincidence that her father and father-in-law are being honored in the same year.

“This year has been an experience,” she said. “It’s been really fun to have our fathers serving as grand marshals.”

Walt was selected to be grand marshal by the Bit N’ Spur Rodeo Club said Karl Scott, Bit N’ Spur Rodeo committee member.

“At our meeting earlier this year we talked about who was best, and Walt’s name was mentioned,” he said. “He is well known by most of the members.”

As a longtime member of the Tooele Bit N’ Spur, Walt said he feels honored to be asked to be the grand marshal.

“I felt honored when I was asked,” he said. “It wasn’t something I could turn down. It’s a big, classy thing.”

Scott said Walt is an outstanding man who is well-liked.

“He has ties to the Bit N’ Spur and is well-deserving of the title,” he said.

Walt, 86, has lived in Tooele for about 60 years. He was raised in Nebraska and moved to Tooele after meeting and marrying his wife, Becky, who is from Magna.

He became involved with the Tooele High School Rodeo Team in 1962, and was considered one of the first co-advisors for the team.

“I worked with the high school rodeo team for many years,” he said. “I worked with the team until my three boys were out of high school.”

It was in 1968 that Wickham was appointed to the National Director’s Board of the High School Rodeo Association, which he also helped start. During this time, he also compiled the bi-laws for the UHSRA, which are still being used today.

Walt became president of UHSRA in 1969, and four years later became the national association’s president. It was that same year that the national finals were held in Ogden.

“I coordinated everything for that year’s finals,” he said. “It was really big. Having a chance to hold it in Utah gave people an opportunity to see the rodeo.”

There were 908 participants at that year’s rodeo.

“At that time, it was the biggest rodeo in the world,” he said.

Walt resigned as president in 1974 but continued to volunteer at the National Finals Rodeo.

He worked with Bit N’ Spur for about 12 years, while all three of his boys were in the club.

“It’s just a hometown thing,” he said. “It’s been going on for years and great to be involved with.

Chick is just as honored as Walt to be chosen as Grantsville’s grand marshal.

He was born in Grantsville almost 82 years ago. He was raised there, and graduated from Grantsville High School with the class of 1945. He married Beverly Palmer.

As someone who throughout his life has been actively involved in the community, Chick was a great choice for Grantsville’s grand marshal, said Jason Duhon, Grantsville’s Fourth of July celebration chairman.

Chick was a volunteer firefighter for Grantsville for more than 50 years. He also has many years of public service behind him, including serving on the county commission for eight years and the Grantsville City Council for one year. He also served with the little league for two years.

“I’ve always been active in civic things in Grantsville,” he said.

In addition, Chick also served during World War II in Italy.

Chick’s daughter, Carla, said he has always been very active in the community and has been a great example.

“He has been an example of service to his children,” Carla said. “He’s always helping others with whatever they need. He’s been a great example of a hard worker.”

Chick retired from the Tooele Army Depot after 33 years of working in the optical shop.

He said he is excited to be chosen as Grantsville’s grand marshal.

“It is an honor,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of civic jobs over the years, and I’ve been actively involved with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s great to be recognized for my service.”

Although Chick is honored, he said his greatest accomplishments are his family.

“We raised a great family,” he said. “It included four of our own children and three Indian children.”

Duhon said that recognizing Chick is a way to show appreciation.

“To be recognized for all his service to the community is the highest form of thanks,” he said. “Chick has been an asset all over Grantsville.”

Carla said Chick and Walt have been excellent to watch, not only in the community, but also how they treat their wives.

“Both men have been great examples of how to show service to their wives,” she said.

She added that both are grand marshals has been exciting for the whole family.

“We have been so excited,” she said. “Not only has it been exciting for Walt and my dad, but it’s been pretty exciting for Terry and me.”

Both of the men will appear in the parades in their town. Tooele’s parade is at Friday at 9 a.m. and Grantsville’s is at 11 a.m. In addition to appearing in the Tooele parade, Walt will also appear in this weekend’s Bit N’ Spur Rodeo.

apalmer@tooeletranscript.com