Don Terry chosen as Oakville Independence Day Parade grand marshal
The Oakville Chamber of Commerce this week announced Don Terry as the 2026 Oakville Independence Day Parade grand marshal.
"You are most likely to know Don from his work as the City of Oakville's Building Official for the last 30 years, and the Chehalis Tribe's Building Official for 18 years," the chamber wrote in a news release. "After a career of service to the Oakville community, Don retired in April, so we are taking this opportunity to see him out in style."
Terry was born in Centralia, attended grade school in Rochester and graduated from Lake Quinault High School. Before graduating, he spent his summers working with his father cruising old growth timber and laying out logging roads.
Terry is a Vietnam-era veteran, having served honorably aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway as a gunner's mate, according to the chamber. After service, he married his high school sweetheart, Gail.
Terry supported his family working in the woods for a few years. Don and Gail Terry moved their family to Oakville in 1981, where their three kids completed their schooling. The Terrys have been married 50 years and have 12 grandchildren.
Terry spent 14 years as a general contractor engaging in commercial and residential projects around Washington. In 1994, he contracted with the City of Oakville as their part-time building official, and in 2006, Terry was hired full-time by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation as their building official, where he worked on several projects in Grand Mound, Tumwater and on the Chehalis Reservation.
In his spare time, Terry enjoys camping, spending time with his grandkids, woodworking, tinkering with his old classic cars, clam digging and beach combing, the chamber stated.
Terry will head up the Oakville Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m.
To register a parade entry, visit scoottheroute.weebly.com or email oakvillechambercommerce@gmail.com.
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