Wild Rice Days Parade Grand Marshal James Carr

MCGREGOR, Minn.—James Carr has answered the call of his community, not for recognition or accolades, but because helping others has always been part of who he is. His unwavering dedication to McGregor and the surrounding communities, devotion to family and friends, and service with the McGregor Fire Department have touched countless lives. This year, his extraordinary commitment is being recognized as Carr has been named Grand Marshal of the 62nd Annual Wild Rice Days Parade.

Carr is a lifelong resident of McGregor and a graduate of McGregor High School. His post-secondary education included a year at Brainerd Vocational School where he studied auto mechanics.
Carr is deeply rooted not only in the community he has spent his life serving, but also in the family he has built here. James and his wife, Michelle, have known one another for most of their lives. Growing up just one mile apart, they rode bikes and spent time together as children, long before they knew where life would lead them.

The Carrs wed in January, 1990. Their 36-year marriage has produced a loving family, including four children—Dane’, Mack, Trevor and Breanna. Few things bring greater joy to the couple than being surrounded by their children and nine grandchildren, ranging in age from 15 months to 13 years old.
“Riding his tractor and farming make James happy,” says Michelle. The couple owns 200 acres of land, inhabited by beef cattle, horses, Pygmy fainting cross goats, dogs and cats.

Careers built on helping others

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Carr worked at Thompson’s Farms for local farmer Tommy Thompson, helping with whatever needed to be done. He briefly worked for Yukon Furnace Company in McGregor manufacturing furnaces then at Venex manufacturing vending machines.
Since the late 80s, Carr has been employed by Frontier Communications as a lineman and installer. Carr is known for going above and beyond for customers, ensuring their phone and internet connectivity issues are resolved in a timely manner.

Four decades of answering the call

From a young age, Carr desired to become a firefighter. On December 1, 1986, his dream became a reality when he joined the McGregor Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. What followed was nearly four decades of service to his neighbors during some of the most frightening, painful and uncertain moments of their lives. Carr has served as a firefighter, assistant fire chief and, for the past 25 years, as McGregor’s Fire Chief.

Carr’s years with the fire department also helped shape its future. Extensive planning went into developing the concept for a new McGregor Fire Hall. One of the pinnacles of Carr’s tenure was helping guide the process of completing the new fire hall project from inception to fruition, underscoring Carr’s legacy of service.

Wild Rice Days traditions passed through generations

Wild Rice Days has represented many of the things Carr treasures most about McGregor - family, friendships, traditions and community. He especially looks forward to the McGregor Fire Hall’s open house, where people gather for hot dogs and tours of the fire hall. He can also often be found lending a hand at his longtime friend John Heron’s Triple J Concessions booth.

Carr has enjoyed driving a fire truck in the Wild Rice Days parade accompanied by his grandchildren over the years. His five-year-old grandson, Lochlan, and son Mack have frequently joined him since Lochlan was just two years old. One of Lochlan’s highlights is throwing candy to the children lined up along the parade route. Lochlan has said he wants to become a fireman like “Poppy” when he grows up so he can continue throwing candy.
Since childhood, Carr has also supported and helped with the McGregor Lions Club’s Corn Feed during Labor Day weekend.

A legacy of selfless service

Perhaps the clearest picture of Carr’s impact comes from the people who have stood beside him and watched him serve.
“James has given to the town of McGregor as fire chief, going out on calls and seeing things I’d never want to see,” says longtime friend John Heron. “He became friends with his Frontier customers who needed assistance and went way above and beyond to help everyone he could help. James always felt it was his personal mission and job to assist as many people as possible.”
“I have known James my entire life,” adds McGregor Fire Department Acting Fire Chief and former Aitkin County Sherriff Scott Turner. “We went to school together, played sports together and have served together on the fire department for nearly 32 years.”
“James is the most selfless public servant I have ever known,” Turner says. “He is nearly always available, always ready and willing to respond, and has given more of himself than anyone else I have encountered in my 40 years of public safety work. He certainly makes the community better and the fire department better able to respond because of his dedication and commitment.”
“The crown jewel of James’s tenure as fire chief is the new McGregor Fire Hall, which will better serve our community for many years,” Turner concludes.

A well-earned place leading the parade

This year, Wild Rice Days will look slightly different for Carr. He won’t be driving the fire truck in the Wild Rice Days Parade but instead leading the parade down Maddy St. as the Wild Rice Days Parade Grand Marshal. Be sure to extend a wave of gratitude to Carr for his decades of service and also for a lifetime spent showing what it truly means to care for the place he calls home.