By Brenna Wiegand
Jerry Lauzon, known far and wide as “Mr. Oktoberfest,” is retiring from the Mount Angel Oktoberfest Board of Directors effective Jan. 26. Of Lauzon’s 20 years on the Oktoberfest board, he spent eight as president.
As admirable as that service record is, Lauzon said “My real life’s work was as a professional soldier.”
At age 53, Lauzon retired from the Army as a colonel after 35 years of service.
“I knew that I still had a lot of life to live,” he said. “…I had learnt the value of service as a young fellow in scouting and felt it was time for me to pay back after a very satisfying and fulfilling military career.”
Something challenging in which he could make a difference.
“Oktoberfest here in Mount Angel was the perfect answer – and it became my second career,” he said.
John Gooley, president of the Mount Angel Oktoberfest Board since 2006, doesn’t like to see the older board members go because of their key role in good leadership. Last year, Dick Rawie retired after two dozen years on the board.
Lauzon says the board has a reputation for attracting the “brightest and most talented people from our community” and that it is “in extremely capable hands.”
Gooley said nobody can realize all Jerry does; he and Lauzon have talked about the festival nearly every day for the past nine years – from little details like monitoring whether the website hits have exceeded 4 million or writing press releases – to international incidents.
“You wouldn’t believe what he has to do to get the German band over here every year – then we sit there and sweat that they get through customs,” Gooley said. “It’s probably going to take three of us to do what Jerry did.”
Seriously.
Monica Bochsler, the new public relations director, will take the bulk of responsibilities, but both the board secretary and Gooley will be doing what Lauzon did.
…but he won’t be far away. Lauzon’s training Bochsler and plans to continue volunteering with her as a PR agent.
“I have amassed tons of files and materials I must pass on to my replacement,” Lauzon said.
“It doesn’t matter if he says it or not – he’s still there making sure everything gets done the right way,” Gooley said.
As if in culmination to the string of advancements fostered under his wing, Lauzon helped dedicate the new Mount Angel Festhalle at the start of last year’s festival. The other 361 days the Festhalle is a community building already hosting two or three events a month, with increasing interest from other areas.
“A good exclamation point on Jerry’s great career,” Gooley said.
In March, Lauzon begins a term as president of the Oregon Festivals and Events Association, continuing his penchant for making festivals and events successful statewide.
“I love the visiting part of the job,” he said. “Connie and I coupled a recent onsite workshop in Joseph with a great winter getaway.
“Maybe this will become career number three.”
