The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-Pat Mohney will trade in his traditional behind-the-scenes role in the Waitsburg Celebration Days parade to take a seat front-and-center as this year's parade marshal. He was selected by the Celebration Days parade committee for his years of volunteerism and service in the Waitsburg community and his ongoing involvement with the Days of Real Sport and Celebration Days.

Mohney moved to Waitsburg in the second grade and has made it his home ever since, staying to raise his two sons, Luke and Colter.

"It's a great community to grow up in. Good schools, good people. If you got out of line you got in trouble not only from whoever's parent caught you, but your parents knew it before you got home," he said. "Carl Henze was the policeman/night watchman and he kept a pretty close eye on the kids in town."

After graduating from Waitsburg High School, Mohney played football at Whitman College, left to work for Waitsburg farmer Kenny Smith, and eventually went back to school at Walla Walla Community College where he earned an associate's degree in applied sciences.

He then returned to farming for Kenny Smith, where he stayed for seven years before taking a job hauling fuel for the Walla Walla Farmers Co-op. Mohney returned to work the Smith farm for another five years before being hired as a grader operator for the Walla Walla County Public Works Department. He remained in the North District Prescott/Waitsburg area for nearly 25 years before retiring last October.

Unfortunately, he got to enjoy only a few months of his retirement before a fall in January resulted in a broken neck, which has had him sidelined since.

"I got to hunt through the fall, but only got to ride the 4-wheeler with tracks on once last winter," he said.

His outdoor pursuits were temporarily put on hold, but Mohney said has plans to get back in the mountains as soon as possible.

Growing up, Mohney said the Days of Real Sport was always a much-anticipated event.

"I think my first memory of the Days of Real Sport was when I was nine-years-old, and we got to ride in the hide race. They get a cowhide and guys on saddle horses; it's a relay race, and you ride the hide. It was great fun!" he said.

Mohney said he spent many years at the races helping his dad, Red Mohney, pony horses.

"A bunch of us guys in high school helped pony horses here, Dayton and Walla Walla," he said.

"And, of course working for Kenny Smith, his crew spent many days at the race track each spring, working on barns and getting things ready. I don't know how many loads of those Powder River stalls I went to Baker City, put a load on a semi, and brought back here," he said.

When it comes to favorite memories, Mohney said, "I love to watch the horses run! And the people – both the crowd and the guys you work with out there."

Mohney also worked as a field judge, a skill he passed on to son, Colter, and set up and tore down the parade barricades.

Mohney said he usually rode in the Days of Real Sport parade, driving a buggy, or whatever was needed. As the event transitioned to Waitsburg Celebration Days, Mohney has found himself working behind-the-scenes, setting up barricades and working the staging area for the lineup.

Mohney pitches in as needed, the same way he does in the community at large. Modest to a fault, Mohney couldn't be cajoled into discussing his service or accomplishments, and while he is not one for joining clubs or organizations, he is always ready to lend a helping hand.

"You give a hand through friends and associations wherever it's needed. You do what you need to do," he said.

Mohney recently retired as a volunteer firefighter, which he has done for more than 20 years. And, though he would probably prefer that it not be mentioned, he is a local hero, having received an Award of Merit from the Washington State Patrol for jumping in to fend off two Rotweillers that were attacking a three-year-old in 2001.

Mohney said he was honored and surprised to learn that he had been selected as parade marshal but his first thought was, "I'm not old enough!"

Old enough or not, he is looking forward to the town's annual celebration.

"I enjoy the crowd and the people, just everything," he said.