CLEARWATER TRIBUNE HOME

JULY 1, 2010

From this Chair…

By Cloann McNall

   Randy and Sharon Curtis hosted “celebrities” Harry Walrath and his wife, Dorene of Fairbanks, AK while they were here Friday to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of Walrath Insurance Agency.

   Long-time friends of the couple greeted them at a barbeque Friday noon on a site on College Ave., alongside Walrath Insurance’s building.

   The business is still located in the original building although current owners Neal and Jeannie Johnson did an extensive indoor/outdoor remodel on the building since becoming sole owners in 1991.

   The business was established in 1910 by Harry’s grandfather, Harry L. Walrath. His father T. M. Walrath was later associated with the business and Harry took over in 1963.

   Harry left the business 28 years later in 1991 to become director of the state Dept. of Insurance. He left that position five years later and moved to Fairbanks, AK in 1996. He is now retired and he and his wife continue to live in Fairbanks.

   Dorene works for the University of Alaska in the Dept. of Fish and Game. Their daughter Lorrie Scoles of Fairbanks, is scheduled to become principal of a school in Unalaska.  Her husband Ted Scoles has recently retired as an assistant school principal and is looking forward to doing a lot of fishing.

   The Walraths have two other children, Casey who lives in Fairbanks and Mike in Boise. I ran out of time before I could learn more about Casey and Mike.

   The Clearwater Tribune will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012. We are just now starting to make plans for the event.

   One thing is for sure: Time Marches On, as is sung by Tracy Lawrence in a recent country western hit.