John Olson is a retired newspaper editor and radio news editor. He lives in Manchester, Wash. He was born and raised on farms in Wisconsin. After high school he joined the Navy for eight years achieving the rate of Yeoman First Class. Later earned a BA in journalism in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. In the mid 1960s his family ran a small beef and sheep farm using an Alice Chalmers model RC and later an Alice Chalmers WD-40. About 4 years ago, his oldest son found a good condition RC tractor in Peoria, Ill., and shipped it to Manchester where it was restored to excellent condition. John uses the 1939 tractor in various parades and displays for OPAT&EA, but usually just drives it around Manchester with a big grin on his face. He is the OPAT&EA Secretary.
Jim Cook is the fourth OPAT&EA President serving 1924-25. He was born and raised in Virginia. He joined the Navy in 1961 at age 17. He served primarily in nuclear submarines until retirement in 1995. His last duty station was TRF Bangpr. He moved to Seabeck and raised horses for 10 years. He became interested in old farm tractors, especially Farmalls. In his youth, he worked on the family farm in the summer making hay, growing tobacco and harvesting corn. He became a member of OPAT&EA with the intent of learning how to restore antique tractors. Jim enjoys the camaraderie and sharing of tractor associated events with his fellow tractor enthusiasts. Jim’s toys include a Farmall Cub, H and M.
Dale Hardesty is currently a Poulsbo resident. Dale was born and raised in Valparaiso, Ind. on a working farm raising livestock and growing grains. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee from 1974 to 1984 eventually retiring from Federal Service in 2018 with his final job as a supervisor at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Code 750. He is now the OPAT&EA Events Coordinator. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, making things work again, like equipment and engines (like making silk purses from a pig’s ear), and working with wood, metal and dirt and driving his multiple Ford and Fordson tractors around Kitsap County for hayrides, parade, and for general work around his property.
Dwayne Dunbar was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and has always like John Deere tractors because they were Green! In the 1960s his father started a business delivering wood shavings using a 1943 military surplus Studebaker and a 1955 International. After earning his driver’s license, Dwayne drove both rigs in the family business. In 1969-72 he work for the U.S. Forest Service, again driving green trucks. In1972 he received a ROTC commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. During the 1984 RIF cycle, he was released from active Army duty. His next carrier was as an elementary school librarian, retiring in 2016 after 25 years. In 2019 he bought a 1948 Willys Universal, GPW M35 1/4 Ton Truck (Jeep), now OD Green. In 2022 he bought a Fordson tractor three-point hitch. The Willys is his tractor. He enjoys driving his military vehicles at various events and parades.
Ken Griffin was born in Paducah, Ky., McCracken County on the Mississippi River. Ken was raised in Henderson County, Baskett, Ky., a farming community of 300 people. He grew up working on his grandfather’s and neighboring farms, raising livestock, corn, tobacco, and soybeans. That’s where the great appreciation of farming equipment was born. He relocated to Tracyton, Kitsap County in 1977 and began working in the trucking industry, specifically for Allied Van lines until his retirement in 2013. He was elected Tracyton District 3 Port Commissioner in 2014. He’s now serving his second term ending December 2025. He’s proud to be a part of OPAT&EA – a great group keeping antique tractors and engines going for the younger generations to come. His favorite flavor of tractor? — Green.
Tom Lundgren was born in Litchfield, Minn. in 1951. One of his first recognized sounds was his Dad’s John Deere B “putt putt”. Then at age 3, his family sold their cold Minnesota farm and moved to Newberg, Ore. on a ranch where they raised strawberries, hay, prunes, and timber. His family sold the farm and moved to Newberg keeping the family Massey Harris 44. Then his family returned to Minnesota bringing the Massey Harris with them. In 1970, he joined the U.S. Navy’s nuclear program serving on the USS Camp (SSN 588) in San Diego, retiring as a CPO. Then he worked Seattle jobs in HVAC and boiler operations/inspections. His current tractors include on McCormick Deering WD-9, W-6 and Farmalls H, 400, 300 Utility, Cub, Cub 154 Lowboy, Hebert Shop Mule, John Deere B, Caterpillar D-7 and Ford 6610. He has been OPAT&EA Treasurer for eight years
Also serving as OPAT&EA Board Members are Dick Roberts and Gary Williams.