“I think it’s quite an honor in the same year I am retiring as a teacher, and having been a longtime resident, to be chosen as the grand marshal for the Chester Fourth of July Parade,” said Greg McIntire.

He said the parade has always been a special event for his family, not just as parade watchers but also as active participants.

As a couple, he and wife, Cheri, used to square dance down Main Street on the Fourth of July.

As parents they were involved with the Girl Scouts of America, and their daughters, Chelsea and Stephanie, marched in the parade. One year, the family and the Scouts put together a tucked napkin float representing the American flag.

McIntire, an institution within the Plumas Unified School District (PUSD), retired June 15 after teaching for 35 years. Also an institution within the local community, he worked 32 of those years at Chester Elementary School where he taught everything from third to sixth grade.

Affectionately called “Mr. Mac” by parents and students alike, in his 18-year role as the sixth-grade teacher he devoted his time to preparing his students academically and emotionally to take the next big step in their lives, graduating and moving on to Chester Junior-Senior High School (CHS).

McIntire began his career with PUSD as the new teacher at the James Lee School, formerly known as Injun Jim, a two-room schoolhouse that provided K-6 education in the Feather River Canyon.

He had two back-to-back academic years out of the classroom. During 1995-96 and 1996-97 he was assigned to work as the principal for CES one year and CHS the other.

As to his residency status, he has only lived out of Chester for six years of his entire life.

McIntire was born in the community of Westwood because Chester didn’t have a hospital at that time. He went on to graduate from both CES and then CHS in 1970 before attending Feather River College in Quincy. From there he next attended Chico State where he achieved his bachelor’s degree and his master’s in administration.

He has filled the last 16 years of his summer working for the maintenance division at Lake Almanor West, something he will continue to do part-time into the future.

In the winter, he plans to hunt, fish and continue working with CES sixth-grade classes with their annual block of education regarding the Almanor Basin watershed and the Plumas to the Pacific trip.

He said he also would work in the classrooms, as needed, as a substitute teacher.

About the other facets of his future he said, “As this is my first year, and not knowing what’s going to happen, it’s very exciting to look ahead and see what I can and can’t do.

“I know I will hunt and fish but Cheri and I may travel out of state and even out of the country,” McIntire added.

He said he has family in Finland and friends that travel to Mexico annually.

A large block of his time will also go to his six grandchildren: Jeremiah, Drew, Morgan, Tanner, Dylan and Desiree.

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