Contact: Erin Johnson
Phone: (800) 447-4094
Email: erin@bayfield.org
Connell served as Bayfield pharmacist for thirty-three years, held numerous volunteer positions with community organizations
Gary Connell has been chosen by the Bayfield Apple Festival Committee as the 2013 Apple Festival Grand Marshal, in recognition of his significant contribution to the community of Bayfield.
Gary Connell, 2013 Bayfield Apple Festival Grand MarshalAlthough he wasn’t born in Bayfield, Gary Connell is about as close to being a true Bayfield “local” as one can get. Gary moved to Bayfield in 1969, in search of the advantages that small town living brings. Gary is a pharmacist by profession, and the local pharmacy just happened to be for sale. “I had never heard of Bayfield before, but I liked it immediately,” he recalls. “I’ve been in Bayfield ever since, with no regrets.” When Gary moved to Bayfield, the population was over 1,000 people. The big Bayfield business was the Allwood manufacturing plant, a train still made tracks into town, and taxi cabs stopped for pedestrians in need of a lift.
Gary served the Bayfield, La Pointe and Red Cliff communities as pharmacist for over 33 years. Being a small town pharmacist meant working seven days a week, filling prescriptions after hours (sometimes four or five times a night), and taking medicine to the ferry to send over to Madeline Island. Although this schedule was very intense, Gary remarks, “People didn’t abuse my time. They had legitimate needs and almost all of the trips were for a good cause.” Gary spent twenty years in that first pharmacy building, eventually moving into the building where Ace Hardware stands now for an additional ten years, and rounding off his career in Ashland.
In addition to his critical community role as local pharmacist, Gary has participated in many civic and government organizations throughout the years. He played an integral role as a member of the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce Board, of which he was also director and treasurer. Other positions that he held include: American Legion Commander, Bayfield City Council member, Bayfield School Board member, Northern Lights Manor Board member, and Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation Board member. Gary was also the director for the Washburn chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and a member of the Wisconsin State Pharmaceutical Association. Prior to moving to Bayfield, Gary also served three years in France as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
“It’s an honor – totally unexpected – and I appreciate it,” Gary says, when asked what he thinks about being chosen as this year’s Apple Festival Grand Marshal. “I never pictured myself being in a parade,” he admits. Gary has been retired for six months now and is enjoying having more time to savor life in Bayfield. He remarks, “In summer and fall, there’s no better place to be than Bayfield. Since I’ve retired, we can thoroughly enjoy the community and what the area has to offer.” Gary is married to Kristin Connell, whose family goes back several generations of Bayfield fisherman and boaters. He has three children: Thomas, Megan, and Ryan.
Bayfield Apple Festival”I remember my first Apple Festival after moving here,” Gary says. “I was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the community members in making it a great celebration.” He notes that, “when traveling and people find out we are from Bayfield, their first statement is how they love our city, but especially Apple Festival time.” Gary’s favorite festival event is the parade, but eating the numerous apple inspired foods “runs a close second.” This year’s Apple Festival is set for Friday through Sunday, October 4th, 5th and 6th.
For more information about the 52nd annual Bayfield Apple Festival, please visit bayfield.org or the Apple Festival page on Facebook.
