On the Fourth of July, Karl Krieg III will ride down Bayshore Drive in his red Kenworth pickup truck.
Like the Independence Day parade itself, Krieg has been a major player in Oak Harbor’s history for many years. So when it came time to choose a grand marshal for the 2011 celebration, members of the Rotary Club thought Krieg was an obvious choice.
“Krieg has worked progressively in his community his entire life to give back,” Rotary Club member Richard Delvin said.
But when Krieg first got word of the decision, he was a little taken aback.
“I was quite honored that the club chose me,” he said. “The first thing I asked the president of the Rotary was ‘What? Did you run out of people or something?’”
Krieg grew up on North Whidbey in a house on Troxell Road. He worked for his father while attending Oak Harbor High School and picked up the skills that would soon turn him into a successful entrepreneur and businessman.
Under his direction, Krieg Concrete Products, Inc. on North Whidbey became a leader in the construction industry. The company has contributed its services to the Chamber of Commerce, EA-6B Gateway Park, Volunteer Park, the farmers market, the skateboard park, the Rotary Lagoon, the Veterans Memorial and the Little League complex at Windjammer Park.
Delvin said he believes that Krieg’s efforts and philanthropy have truly made the city a better place to live.
Krieg said he plans to detail and shine his truck himself before the parade Monday. He said the famous truck has been in numerous Fourth of July parades here and has made debuts in neighboring cities as well.
As for Krieg and his wife, Darlyne, this will be their first Oak Harbor Fourth of July in about 10 years. Krieg said the couple usually spends the holiday on their boat.
“It’s a little petrifying,” Krieg joked about his new lead role. “I’m afraid people are going to be standing on the sidelines throwing eggs at me or something.”
The festivities:
The Fourth of July carnival kicks off Thursday afternoon at Windjammer Park and continues through, Monday, July 4.
On Monday, a vendor market will be held at the park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and family games and activities will take place between 2 and 5 p.m.
The parade will start at 11 a.m. Because of the construction on Pioneer Way, the parade will take the same route as April’s Holland Happening procession. The parade will start at the intersection of Midway Boulevard and Pioneer Way and will continue down Bayshore Drive before coming out near Ace Hardware.
Two pancake breakfasts will be offered on the Fourth. The Rotary Club will host one beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the YMCA building and North Whidbey Fire and Rescue will host one from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Taylor Road Fire Station.
