It's been quite a ride for tom Di Grazia, who is retiring this year after 28 years at the helm of Chico's Silver Dollar Fair. Whether it's in the office taking care of details....or touring the fairgrounds....it's obvious how proud DiGrazia is...of the work he's done here.
He oversaw the planting of the rose garden, and a big change in the layout of the buildings over the years, ....all, as an appointee of the governor, or rather...governors," Jerry Brown, Dukemejian, Wilson, Davis, Arnold. Five appointments and about 110, 120 different directors."
DiGrazia showed animals in 4h and ffa when he was young, and started workin for fairs during the summers...as a student at Chico State. Fair Board President Hugh Sntos says Tom's dedication and attention to detail hasn't gone unnoticed, " And organization and looking ahead and thinking ahead and inovative. There's just not enough words to apply to the man. we're really gonna miss him."
Ad as busy and chaotic as the fair can be.....DiGrazia has never carried a two way radio. Once, they tried giving him a pager, "and at the end of the fair she said I kept paging that thing never workd. I said try again, she did, pulled open top drawer. I said it's working !"
DiGrazia attributes the success of the Silver Dollar ... despite the changing times....to a good foundation, tradition, and exhibits. There were 7 thousand exhibits when he arrived in 1982, close to 17 thousand now."
DiGrazia says it's all important. He says the incoming manager is a friend who's perfect for the job. now, Tom plans to fill in as needed managing fairs elsewhere in the state, "Nice thing is with fairs most people behind me I'll run into all through the year."##
