06/25/2026
🤠As the Garberville Rodeo celebrates its 69th year, we're especially proud to see longtime community leader and Garberville Rotarian Jim Quast named the 2026 Grand Marshal!
Jim's life has been defined by service, as an educator, mentor, volunteer, and dedicated Rotarian since 1989.
Whether leading schools, picking up trash along our roads, or encouraging others to get involved, Jim has quietly embodied the spirit of community stewardship that makes Southern Humboldt so special.
It feels especially fitting that as the Garberville Rotary Club celebrates its 88th anniversary this year, we also celebrate one of our own. Jim reminds us that strong communities are built by people who show up, care deeply, and give back.
Congratulations, Jim Quast, on this well-deserved honor. Thank you for your years of service to Southern Humboldt and for living Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self." 🤠❤️💙💛
Mr Rotarian Q rocks!!!
2026 Garberville Rodeo Grand Marshall
Jim Quast
Jim Quast was born in Huntington Park, Ca. At 8 years old, his family moved to a ranch in Sanjacinto, Ca. He attended schools in the area and went to The University of Redlands for college. While in school, Jim earned money by writing articles for the LA Examiner. He graduated in 1960 with a BA in Geology and earned a teaching assistant job in Pullman, WA while he started his masters. Realizing that he liked teaching high school, and Geology was not a subject then, he quit school. The military draft opened and Jim was drafted in 1961. He was shipped to Georgia, which he was not impressed with, but it also changed his life, as he met his future wife, Sue, on a beach.
Jim got out of the military in 1963 and drove back to California. Sue came to visit him, and he proposed at the top of the newly built Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. His first teaching job was at Beaumont High School, where he taught math and coached for four years. He then moved to Simi Valley and taught seven years. He earned his masters and Cal State LA in 1975 to become an administrator. He interviewed for a vice principal job in Oroville and got it. He spent two years being the VP, then four years at a continuation high school in Oroville as principal, and another seven years at a comprehensive high school there. Jim and Sue’s three children (Greg, Rick, and Cathy) attended school in Oroville. Thinking he wanted to try being a superintendent, he worked one year as a superintendent/principal of a school. It was not what he wanted, so he quit that job. He then applied for the principal job at South Fork High in Miranda, Ca and got the job in 1989. He spent 9 years as the principal at South Fork, and is fondly remembered as being a fair and personable leader. While at South Fork, Jim was named principal of the year for District 1. He retired in 1998, however, Ferndale’s superintendent called and talked him into spending one year as their K-8 principal. He officially retired in 1999.
Jim always wanted to live somewhere that his wife, Sue, loved. Sue loved SoHum; the mountains, clouds, and trees; and so does Jim. They made Benbow their home. Jim is an active person. In the past, he has run 5Ks and he now still walks a couple miles a day. If you see him walking, you will notice he also picks up trash along side the road. As an educator, Jim chose service as his profession, but he also lives it every day. He has been an active Rotary member since 1989, a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a board member of the Healy Senior Center.
Jim believes in Southern Humboldt and feels like our area will grow back, slowly but surely. If he could give any advice to the coming generations in regard to community, he encourages everyone to get involved. The more you can get involved with your community, the better you can make it.
