Randy Eddy Sr., 54, is involved in lots of groups and organizations that need "can-do" positive thinkers.
Since 1988, he has been president of Old Towne North and active in the renovation of businesses there. He also obtained block grants for street lights and improvements that brought new businesses to the Caldonia Street area.
Eddy's a humble guy with a positive attitude who's seldom without a smile -- perfect attributes for commodore of Riverfest, which runs July 2-6 in Riverside Park.
"I want people to know this is really a shared family honor," Eddy said. "And in our family we always shared the good times and the bad. That also includes our friends and neighbors, who are part of our extended family. We share this honor with all of them."
His family includes his wife of 32 years, Judy; son, Randy Eddy Jr.; and daughter, Tanya Eddy.
Randy Eddy is also a member of the Long Range Planning Committee for First Lutheran Church in Onalaska.
Eddy attended UW-L for a couple of years while working part-time at Trane Co., and he worked at Randall Graw Company for three yeras. He began his insurance career with Metropolitan Life in 1967 in Winona, Minn. Later he moved back to La Crosse and continued working with Metropolitan for a total of 12 years. in 1983, he became a partner in the Carier Insurance Agency on Caledonia Street, and he bought the agency in 1991.
"I'm blessed with a fantastic staff of employees that allow me to get involved in things like this," Eddy said. "We want to share this honor with them because they've helped me earn it by giving me the time to be active in the community."
He attended grade school in Onalaska, and when his family moved to La Crosse, he went to Lincoln Middle School and graduated from Central High School. His wife graduated from Logan.
The choice of Eddy as the new commodore was announced Friday night to a crowd of about 400 people at the Commodore Banquet at the La Crosse Center.
It isn't the first time Eddy has been honored. He was the 1995 Torchlight Parade Marshall. He has been chairman of three breakfasts during the Fest -- one held on the North Side for senior citizens and two others at the Fest Grounds.
Eddy genuinely likes people. Every two years, Eddy and his wife host a "Cousins' Reunion." At the last one, 134 cousins and kin came to their home on French Island.
Living near Lake Onalaska, he said, has "been one of our joys. I'm proud to say I'm a current Lake Onalaska Districk Commissioner. We're so fortunate in this area. We're surrounded by nature's wonderland at its best."
Eddy also wears those crisp whites, that Navy blue jacket and the commodore's cap as one who's worn a uniform before. That's because he was in the Naval Reserves for four years and saw active duty for two years with the U.S. Navy serving aboard the U.S.S. Independence.
His other water connection is through his mother, who was once a purser on a river steamboat.
"When they'd come into port in La Crosse, the captain would let mother play the calliope," Eddy said.