The decades-long “voice” of the Labor Day Parade has a new job this year: Torrey Sheen will serve as the 2023 Grand Marshal.
Torrey has been a mainstay in the Humboldt County community for many years—from his many years in radio broadcasting, to his time on local boards and organizations, to his current appointment as Chief of the Winnemucca Rural Fire Department. Being named the 2023 Labor Day Grand Marshal is just one more line on a growing list of decades-long accomplishments.
“I was very honored to be named 2023 Labor Day Parade Grand Marshal,” Torrey said. “It came as a complete surprise.”
It wasn’t a surprise for the Agricultural District No. 3 Board, which sponsors each year’s Tri-County Fair & Stampede, including the 102nd annual Labor Day Parade.
“Torrey has been a great friend to our Labor Day Parade for many years,” said President Kent Maher. “He completely represents the dedication, hard work and sacrifice of Humboldt County’s residents and we were honored to name him as this year’s Grand Marshal.”
Torrey was born in Reno, Nevada, to Bill and Penny Sheen, the oldest of three children. His family, including his parents, brother and sister, moved to Elko when he was five years old. His father owned a plumbing and heating business and also owned and renovated rental properties. According to Torrey, his father could build or make anything; his mother worked alongside him in the business.
Torrey worked as a radio DJ during high school at KELK Radio in Elko—what he describes as a fun job. He also played in a rock and roll band with his friends most weekends and even won a five-state Battle of the Bands held in Winnemucca in 1967. He made many good friends during those years; he even has friends from his Cub Scouts days.
Torrey graduated from Elko High School in 1969. He attended some college in Elko, and worked in his dad’s business after high school; in 1970, he married his wife, Joyce. He joined the National Guard and went into basic training that same year, but was discharged after developing stress fractures in both hips due to a childhood illness that had left those bones somewhat weak.
He and Joyce moved to Reno after being discharged from the Army National Guard. Their first child, son Michael, was born there in 1972. He worked in television for KTVN Channel 2 for the five years they lived in Reno. Torrey really liked it and enjoyed the people he worked with. He and Joyce also managed a complex with 15 small houses. While in Reno, daughter Amber also was born.
Michael was about five and Amber less than a year old when the family moved to Winnemucca. Torrey’s former boss from his DJ days in high school had purchased KWNA Radio in Winnemucca and asked if he wanted to manage it. The answer was “yes” and Torrey and Joyce worked in radio for the next 30 years.
In 1983, they purchased the radio station and added KWNA FM the next year. The couple had two more daughters during those years, Amorie and Hallie. The kids all worked in the radio station and with the rentals Torrey and Joyce owned around town.
The couple sold KWNA AM and FM in 2016. “It has been a lot of fun to be part of all the happenings in Winnemucca and we’ve had, and still have, many opportunities to volunteer and be involved with community projects and boards,” said Torrey.
Those community projects and boards have included the Winnemucca Host Lions Club for 18 years, the Winnemucca Airport Board for more than a decade, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and 911 Advisory Committee.
Torrey added, “I also have enjoyed announcing at the Labor Day Parade for more years than I can count, but this year, I guess someone else will need to do that.”
Torrey still works part-time as Chief of the Winnemucca Rural Fire Department. The WRFD is tasked with responding to fires from just outside the city limits to designated areas that total 150 square miles around Winnemucca. The department also gives mutual aid to the Winnemucca City Fire Department and the Bureau of Land Management.
In their spare time, Torrey and Joyce enjoy working in their yard and visiting with their children, 12 grandchildren, and great granddaughter, scattered from Alaska to Pennsylvania. Torrey also restored a 1947 Willys jeep that he enjoys tooling around in.
“I’d like to continue as fire chief for some years to come,” he said. “I enjoy the work and really like giving back to the community.”
He added that he likes working with the volunteer fire fighters and he’s always impressed with their willingness to give time and effort on a volunteer basis.
Torrey said Humboldt County and Winnemucca have been home for 45 years and have been a great place to work and raise a family.
“I think the future of our small town is bright because there are still many people willing to work together in a positive way to make it so.”
Torrey will lead this year’s Labor Day Parade beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, September procession will begin at the Model T Resort Casino and travel down Winnemucca Boulevard before coming to rest in the parking lot at the Winnemucca Events Complex. This year’s theme is “My Favorite Holiday.”
For more information on the 2023 Tri-County Fair & Stampede or its related events, log onto www.LaborDayFair.com for a full schedule of the weekend’s events.