DOCKSIDE

Marvelous Marshals – Rydells selected to lead community parade

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

Long before homes dotted Liberty Lake neighborhoods like Rocky Hill, Legacy Ridge and the River District, a migration of young families settled in homes around the lake and planted honest roots that would serve as the central layer for a growing community.

Over five decades ago, Jay and Sandy Rydell were one of those families. The move to Liberty Lake – then known as little more than a quaint outpost between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene – came after the couple spent several years working in the suburban Puget Sound area. Trips over the mountains to their friends from college, Stan and Leslie Chalich, in Liberty Lake shed light on the many positive qualities of the area as well as generating warm memories of their native Montana.

The Rydells made the transition to the Inland Northwest in 1971 and have never looked back. Jay latched on with the Central Valley School District, launching a career in teaching, coaching and administrative work that would last until 1997. Sandy would later work for CVSD after spending time as a stay-at-home mom to the couple’s two kids, Tanya and Kyle, now superintendent at the West Valley School District.

Along with their combined contributions to local education, the Rydells provided steady volunteer support at Liberty Lake Church. Sandy was a constant with Greenacres Elementary and Middle School PTA efforts and Jay has been a longtime member of Spokane Valley Kiwanis while also recognized as a co-founder of the Liberty Lake Loop Fun Run.

It’s no wonder then that the Rydells were named grand marshals for the 2023 version of the Liberty Lake Fourth of July Parade.

“The Liberty Lake Fourth of July Parade Committee was very honored to select Jay and Sandy Rydell to be the 33rd grand marshals,” said Parade Chair Annie Tichy. “Jay and Sandy are wellknown and respected for their many years of community service. The Liberty Lake community has benefited from their involvement. Thank you, Jay and Sandy!”

Jay has been part of the parade committee before and expressed surprise when informed of the grand marshal news.

“I asked Annie, ‘Are you running out of candidates?’” he said.

Sandy said she and Jay have known most of the previous grand marshals and have attended every parade since it first wound through the streets of Alpine Shores in 1989.

“It’s an honor,” she said. “The parade has always been a special event for our family.”

So special, in fact, that Tanya makes it a point to return each July to visit her parents and set up on the parade route. She will make the trip again from the Bay Area this year with her family to share in the grand marshal experience.

Jay and Sandy first met on a tennis court in 1966 when both were students at the University of Montana Western in Dillon. Both were majoring in education to become teachers.

Sandy came to UMW from her hometown of Butte, Montana where she grew up the oldest of five kids. She was a drum major in high school and participated in Independence Day parades with the local VFW Drum and Bugle Corps.

Jay was raised 150 miles away in Great Falls, Montana where he found success in football, wrestling and track. After several offers to play college football, he landed at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska where his uncle coached. He transferred to Montana Western his senior year.

Jay and Sandy were married in 1967 and will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary this August.

A year after exchanging vows, the couple moved to Federal Way, Washington where Jay taught middle school and Sandy was a second-grade instructor. After three years, the Rydells packed up their bags permanently for Liberty Lake.

“At the time, there wasn’t much here other than railroad tracks and grass fields,” Sandy recalled. “This was even before Zip Trip. We were in a rental at first and we’ve been in our house on Liberty Drive for almost 50 years. I couldn’t imagine a better place to raise a family.”

Q: This first question is for both of you. What was your first reaction when you found out you would be grand marshals for the Fourth of July Parade?

A: We were truly surprised to learn about our nomination when Annie Tichy stopped by the house to tell us. It is an honor and very humbling!

Q: Jay, you were on the parade committee for years. What makes this event so special?

A: We do remember that first parade in 1989 and the excitement and enthusiasm it generated in

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Continued from page 2 our community. I enjoyed those years that I was involved with the planning. We would always gather at Dave Graham’s home to strategize and plan for the upcoming year’s parade. All these years later it still is one of the highlights of our Liberty Lake Fourth of July festivities. It is a parade that is mainly for the children to participate in! Our committee always said, “it’s for the kids!”

Q: Sandy, what are some memories you have of Independence Day growing up in Montana?

A: I was raised in Butte, Montana and have many fond memories our town’s parade, in which I also participated in. My brother and I belonged to the VFW Youth Drum and Bugle Corps! There were family picnics at our Columbia Gardens and fireworks later that evening.

Q: Jay, why was the move from the greater Seattle area to Eastern Washington a good transition early in your married life?

A: We had accepted teaching jobs with the Federal Way School District following graduation from Western Montana College in Dillon. That was a fun transition for us leaving our small towns in Montana and moving to a large city. We knew eventually, though, our desire was to move back to be nearer to our families. So this transition to Liberty Lake was perfect for us. We were expecting our first baby when we moved here in 1971 and Sandy wasn’t able find a job since there was a hiring freeze on new teachers. So she became a stay-at-home mom with our two children, Tanya and Kyle, which she enjoyed for many years. We became very involved with many activities in our Liberty Lake Church, lots of volunteering in our kids’ classrooms throughout their years at Greenacres Elementary and Junior High. We couldn’t imagine a better community to have settled in and raise our family.

Q: Sandy, what were some of your first impressions of the Liberty Lake area when you moved here over 50 years ago?

A: We became familiar with the lake area when visiting with college friends Stan and Leslie Chalich on our trips between Federal Way and

Montana. When Jay was hired by the Central Valley School District, we knew that this is where we would live! We love the beauty of the lake and small close-knit community and all the outdoor activities available.

Q: What are some of the most significant changes you’ve seen in Liberty Lake in the time that you have both lived here?

A: We both agree that establishing the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water system was crucial to the health of our lake. When we first moved here, the lake wasn’t very appealing during some of those summers in the 70s. Also, we were a small village with any amenities. We can remember when Zip Trip put in the gas station and we could purchase milk and bread without a trip into the Valley! Now we have a bustling, vibrant town with schools, grocery stores, restaurants, many businesses and industries.

Q: Jay, you were heavily involved in Central Valley athletics as a coach and an administrator. What were some of the lessons you tried to teach student-athletes during your tenure?

A: I always wanted to instill many of the same values and lessons that I learned from my coaches in high school and college. It was important to teach them to take pride in CV high school and themselves. I wanted them to not be quitters, but to make a commitment to themselves, the team, the school and always finish what you start. It taught them how to become leaders, confident in themselves, participating in school activities, be tough but fair, when you make a promise you keep it. My philosophy was always “Kids First” and to be available as a mentor and help them succeed. The greatest reward is years later, having former students and athletes tell you that you made a difference in their lives.

Q: Finally, what are each of you looking forward to most about this year’s July Fourth festivities?

A: Well, we definitely we be seeing the parade from a different perspective this year! We both are looking forward to being on the parade route seeing lots of our friends, neighbors, throwing out the candy and enjoying all the excitement of the day After all, it’s all about the kids!