The Chief Marshal grew up on a small rural farm and attended one- or two-room schools before reaching a larger high school via bus. After graduating, he attended college with the intention of pursuing a teaching career, which he did upon graduation.
 

However, his career goals changed when the Vietnam War led him to join the Naval Reserve to fulfill his military commitment. He reported for active duty at the end of his second teaching year.

While assigned to a command at the Naval Base Norfolk during weekend duty, he decided that being an officer was a better military lifestyle and applied to Officer Candidate School. After being accepted, he reported to OCS Newport, graduated as an Ensign, got married, and reported for duty on a Newport ship. At the end of that tour, he returned to Maine with the intention of continuing his teaching career. However, the allure of a military career soon beckoned him back to the Navy.
 

This decision brought the family to Bristol, where his wife remained, the children were educated in Bristol schools, and he traveled to his Navy assignments. He remained on active duty until retiring in 1998 with the rank of Captain. His career included three ship tours, two DC tours, two Reserve Center Commands, and Commander of the Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region 5, responsible for all Navy Reserve Centers in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and Western New York. His final tours were at the Naval Reserve Headquarters commands in New Orleans, where he served as Manpower Director for the Naval Reserve Force and Deputy Commander for the Naval Surface Reserve Force. During his 32-year Navy career, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with two stars, the Meritorious Service Medal with two stars, the Navy Commendation Medal, and various service awards.

After retiring, he worked as a substitute teacher at St. Luke’s School and as a real estate agent before accepting a position with the Naval Reserve Association in Alexandria, Virginia, commuting weekly for several years.

On the advice of his barber, “Burkie,” he joined the Bristol Elks 27 years ago, where he has served in several officer positions, including Exalted Ruler (President) twice and Lodge Trustee. He has been the Lodge Scholarship Chairman for over 20 years and, for many of those years, was the RI State Elks Association Scholarship Chairman.
 

He joined the Bristol 4th of July Committee in 2004 and oversaw forming the Military Division in his first Parade. He served on several committees before becoming Vice Chairman (Parade Chairman) for the 225th and 226th Celebrations. As General Chairman, he had the honor of selecting Tony Teixeira for the 227th Celebration and Lou Cirillo for the 228th Celebration. He was the Patriotic Speaker for the 233rd Celebration and the Hattie Brown recipient for the 225th Celebration. For several years, he was a poll worker and, until recently, served as a member of the Town Personnel Board, several times as Chairman.

The Chief Marshal has been married to his wife Lydia for 57 years. They have two children: Amy, married to Joe Olsen, and Todd, married to Cheryl. Todd and Cheryl are the parents of their four grandchildren: Annabel, a Yale University graduate student; Ella, a senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI); and twins Braeden and Lucas, freshmen at WPI.
 

A little-known fact is that the grandchildren have attended the Bristol 4th of July Celebration every year, except the COVID year, since they were born.
 

It is my honor to introduce to you a late-arriving Bristol resident, but he got here as soon as he could.

​240th Chief Marshal’s of Bristol Fourth of July Celebration Name(s).