TRINIDAD — The Trinidad Round Up Association chose Herman and Penni Moltrer as the Grand Marshall and Silver Queen for the 2015 Labor Day Parade and they presided over the 105th Annual Labor Day Weekend Rodeo and Festivities.Herman E. Moltrer was born to Ernest and Sarah (Andretta) Moltrer, at home, about two blocks from where he lives now, in Valdez, then known as Hells Half Acre. He was raised and schooled in the Valdez/Primero and New Segundo area. He graduated in 1963, stayed out of school for a year, then attended TSJC to earn his degree in Engineering. He was in the Armyfrom 1967-1969, spending his entire tour in Vietnam. Upon his return, he worked in construction and as an equipment operator among other jobs, while also running his own ranch.
At that time the coal camp and Highway 12 was open range so they had to track down their critters every now and again. As the ranching operation grew, land was leased for pasture.
Penni (Dale) Moltrer was born August 22, 1948 in Boulder, CO to John and Opal Dale. John Dale was born in Cokedale and worked in the mines, following wherever the jobs led him. The family came back to Trinidad when the Allen Mine opened, where John became the mine foreman, while Opal took care of the home front. Penni attended school in Trinidad, receiving her GED in 1967. She then went to work at Riverside Drugstore and Primero High School.
Herman and Penni Moltrer met in Trinidad during Labor Day weekend, and were married May 22, 1970. In 1992, Herman and Penni bought a ranchnortheast of Aguilar.
Right after Herman and Penni made the last payment on their ranch, the Army came and wanted to buy and move everyone off their land, ranches and homes. Their ranch would have been in the first phase of Army takeover.
So, along with many other ranchers and concerned citizens, Herman and Penni joined the fight to stop the Army from taking over and joined the PCEOC, (Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition).
Herman and Penni raised four children, Robert (Denise) Fernandez, Ronnie (Roxann) Fernandez, Michelle (Mark) Kendall and Sarah (Aaron) Schultz. They have 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; Tynnia, Katie, Chantay, TJ, Analyse, Brett, Emily, Ashley, Aavery, Aiden and Austin.
Penni was a 4-H Leader in Primero and has volunteered with 4-H for 25 years, including El Moro 4-H, Soaring Eagles 4-H and Crossed Arrows 4-H. Herman enjoys ranching and working. Penni enjoys yoga, cooking and sewing. They both enjoy watching sporting events at the schools, being involved with Church and watching their grandkids grow. Penni is a Primero School Board member and from Herman all the way through their grandkids have been graduates of Primero School.
A fond memory for Herman includes getting together with friends and kids from the community and gathering up what steers, cows or horses they could and using a small chute they had. They would buck the animals out of the chute. Since it was open range, the bucking ride could last a few seconds or a long time. But once the ride was over, it was a long walk to get critters gathered back up or to get back to the bucking chute.
Herman and Penni have always enjoyed Labor Day Weekend. They remember enjoying three nights of dances, three rodeos, a BBQ, the parade and seeing people whom they haven’t seen in a while. A tradition has formed through the years, that when the parade is over the whole family goes out to eat dinner and then heads to the rodeo!
Herman and Penni are honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshall and Silver Queen for the 2015 Labor Day Parade and Weekend Festivities. Labor Day has always been a favorite time for them.
