Doran and Sharon Higgins selected as parade marshals

Doran and Sharon Higgins are longtime residents of the Ridgway community in Carter County. Doran grew up in Powder River County and moved to the community working on area ranches when he was fifteen years old. Sharon has lived on the ranch where they now live all of her life. The ranch has deep roots - part of it was homesteaded in 1905 by Hamilton Ewalt, her maternal great-grandfather, and part of it was homesteaded by Elmer Richards, her paternal grandfather. For 6 generations the ranch has stayed in the family.

Doran and Sharon Higgins were married in 1959. After moving around for three years working at different jobs, they settled on Sharon's parents place in the Ridgway community. They have always been active in the various organizations and activities of the community. For several years, Doran called square dances and gave dance lessons to youth in the county. Both Sharon and Doran belonged to the Gumbo Gophers 4-H club and later both became 4-H leaders. 4-H is still a part of their lives as they watch grandkids work their way through their many projects.

They belonged to the Boxelder Community Club when it was an active organization. There were many dances, programs, meetings, card parties and other doings held at the Community Hall that they were a part of. Sharon was a member of the Carter County Belles when it was going and both belong to the Carter County Sheep and Cattle Growers Association. Sharon is an active member of the Homemakers Heritage Extension Club and the Fallon-Carter Homemaker's Council. They have a strong faith in Jesus Christ and are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Rodeo has been a big part of their lives as well. Doran team roped his whole career. In his younger years he did quite a bit of calf roping and dogging. He rode saddle broncs for awhile and even had the opportunity to ride Feek Tooke's "General Custer." Rodeo became a family affair as the kids got old enough to participate in youth rodeos. Sharon was their biggest fan, cheering everyone on and keeping score. They put on the Higgins Junior Rodeo at their ranch for several years. Most weekends in the summer were spent at a roping or rodeo somewhere. Doran was also a judge at the Days of '85 Rodeo for many years.

Doran and Sharon say that Carter County is the BEST place to be. They are so thankful that they are privileged to live here and raise their family where they could teach their children the value of work and service by participating, as a family, in church, 4-H, rodeo, school and other activities.