Gary Fish Peterson - Joined the Board of the Mattole Valley Historical Society (MVHS) in 2017. Worked as a biologist, laborer, volunteer, and occasional board member with environmental and community organizations in the Mattole River watershed for nearly 40 years. Moved to the Petrolia area in 1980 and co-founded the Mattole Salmon Group (MSG}. In 1986, He was a founding Board member of the Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF). Served as SRF's first Secretary from 1986-89. In 1995, He received the annual Restorationist of the Year Award. Presently semi-retired and work part-time for the MSG, as well as serving as a Board member for the MRC for my third stint since the 1990s.
Laura Cooskey - Born in the state of Maine, Laura came west fresh out of Colby College. By the late 1980s she had found her heart's home in the Mattole Valley. She took on the name "Cooskey" to honor the people and the place they named here ages ago. Raising three children while serving on various Boards and service groups in the Valley kept her busy for a couple of decades. In the mid-1990s she was urged by Ellen Taylor to form a Historical Society and to act as its Secretary; now, 24 years later, she is officially Secretary again. After a few years in Arcata/Eureka for her daughter's schooling, she has returned to make her home in a tiny cabin on her small riverside property. She likes being outdoors, hiking with her Feist dog, Ginger, and working on her place; and also enjoys reading, writing, music, art, and social media.
Dyan Damron - After retiring in 2014, Dyan was finally able to fulfill her 40 year dream of moving to Petrolia. Her parents had retired here in the 70's and her daughter Trisha spent her summers with them. Dyan quickly immersed herself in the community, first serving on the board of the Mattole Valley Community Center. Having met Laura Cooskey over the years, she didn't hesitate at the opportunity to join the board of the historical society. She was appointed to the role of Treasurer and filed all the necessary documents to obtain 501(c)3 status for MVHS. In addition, Dyan is currently the Treasurer of the Mattole Valley Grange.
Thomas Clark - Born and raised in the Mattole Valley to one of the early pioneering families,
in 1970 I enrolled in the US Navy's advanced electronics program,
emerging as a Navy ET specializing in airport radar and communications systems.
Arriving in Silicon Valley in the late 1970s,
I enjoyed a career as an electronics design engineer working in aerospace,
artificial intelligence, and advanced communications.
I successfully re-designed and rebuilt my earthquake damaged home in Aptos,
doubling its size in the process, and by doing the bulk of the labor myself,
completed the task at less than 1/2 of the project cost estimates received from local architects/builders.
Cindy Lyman - Place a bio and contact information if desired by the individual. Place a bio and contact information if desired by the individual.
Bob Stansberry - Bob Stansberry's family has had ties to the Upper Mattole, Ettersburg, and Petrolia areas beginning in the 1860s. He has lived on and have been involved in the stewardship of our family ranch for most of his 74 years. Along the way he has developed a passion for understanding and preserving the history of the ranch as well as the history of the Mattole Valley and Southern Humboldt County.
Lori Lindley-Cook - Lori was born in Garberville. Her family, the Lindleys, came to the Valley in the late 1800s and her husband's family, the Cooks, came to the Valley in the mid-1800s. She is dispatcher for the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department. Lori has owned her own catering company since 1995. She has belonged to many different organizations where she has done fundraising for individuals, groups, and clubs. She is married to John Cook and has three kids.
Becky Enberg - I was born in Eureka, but came to Petrolia as my mother married a sheep rancher in 1938. I have always been proud to be called a sheep herder. I am retired after working 28 years for the County of Humboldt. I joined the Mattole Valley Historical Society, as I love the valley where I grew up and plan to help preserve its history.
Kay Raplenovich - Kay moved from Ohio to the Mattole Valley in 2015 with her husband Bob to live close to their son Aaron and his family. In her life before Petrolia, Kay was a singer performing opera, orchestra solos, classical recitals and teaching voice at university and in a private studio. She was a state touring artist, and a teaching artist for the Ohio Arts Council and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She served as a reader on ARTS grant panels for Ohio and Michigan and served on a number of statewide and local boards. Kay and her husband raised goats, chickens and had gardens from which they sold flowers and vegetables and they lived and taught in Slovenia for 5 years. Kay is currently teaching music at the Mattole Unified School and directs The Mattole Valley Singers.