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Thomas steps aside as Stampede president

The Williams Lake Stampede Association will be experiencing a changing of the guard heading into its 90th anniversary year.

The Williams Lake Stampede Association will be experiencing a changing of the guard heading into its 90th anniversary year.

Twenty-plus year Stampede president Fred Thomas recently declined his nomination as president during the Association’s AGM.

“I think it’s healthy for any organization to make changes,” Thomas said Tuesday.

“People want change and that’s good.”

Thomas said the long-running success of the association is much bigger than just one person, crediting the army of volunteers past and present with making the world class Stampede the event it is today.

“It’s time for me to step back. It’s been a riot, I’ve enjoyed it and I’ll still be a part of it,” said Thomas, who has one more year to serve as director as well as his duties as past president.

Stepping up as the new Stampede president is Tim Rolph, who has been the rodeo director for the past several years.

“I have all the confidence in the world in Tim,” Thomas said.



Angie Mindus

About the Author: Angie Mindus

A desire to travel led me to a full-time photographer position at the Williams Lake Tribune in B.C.’s interior.
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