Harold Laverne Olson of Lewiston will be guest of honor at a celebration from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at 2102 Grelle Ave. in Lewiston. The occasion is his 80th birthday.
He was born Aug. 7, 1936, in Spokane, to Axel and Gladys Olson. From a young age, he played guitar and sang country music, and beginning in the late 1950s, he traveled to performances throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana and California with his musical group, the Hal Olson Band.
He and Genevieve Ahrens were married April 7, 1959, in Shelby, Mont.
From the early 1960s until 2005, he sang at music and dance establishments in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley including the Stables, Elks, Moose and the Eagles. During the day, he worked for many years as a glazier for Inland Auto Glass before retiring in 2010.
For more than 40 years, he and his wife spent most summer weekends announcing amateur rodeos throughout the Northwest. He was the grand marshal of the Wild Weippe Rodeo Association in 2006 and he announced his last rodeo in 2011.
His wife died in 2010.
He continues to sing and play guitar at venues around the community. He enjoys spending time in his yard and garden with his great-grandchildren.
His family will be hosts for the celebration and includes two daughters, one son, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
