Mark and Bonnie Hackford have been selected as the grand marshals of the July 3-4 celebrations in Lapoint.

Mark Hackford was born in Lapoint on Aug. 11, 1940, to George and Sarah Van Hackford. In 1957, he enlisted in the Army. Discharged in 1960, he went to work building pipelines for oil and gas companies.

"We worked hard those days," he said. "There were no government handouts."

Bonnie Hackford said her husband's monthly check was $388. He met her at Maud's Cafe in Vernal where she was working as a waitress for 35 cents an hour.

"We were married March 12, 1960, and I went to work for Mountain Fuel (now Questar) as a welder," he said. "I ended up in 1998 as district foreman."

The Hackfords are parents of seven children: three girls and four boys.

"We have 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren," Mark Hackford said.

In 1970 there was an electric discount for power, and as a result the couple got their first electric yard lights and an all electric home.

"That was when Lawrence Caldwell brought electricity to the Basin," Mark Hackford said. "Boy were we uptown."

In his spare time Mark Hackford played his guitar and sang at funerals, weddings, and other occasions. He was a member of the Country Gentlemen with Tex Ross, Gib Ross, Woodey Olsen, and others.

"We played about every gig in the Basin," he said.

"People really danced back then. If you need a dance band, sound equipment for a parade, guitar accompaniment, just ask Mark," said Lapoint resident Dorothy Luck. "He donated time and talent to so many public events. Mark has been the announcer at the Lapoint parade for years."

Lapoint's annual Fourth of July celebration will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Lapoint Store. Parade line up will be at 5 p.m., followed by Scout Troop 239 and Eagle Scouts presenting the colors. The parade will proceed to the pavilion for a potluck dinner. Parade entries should call 435-247-2738.

A patriotic program begins at 7 p.m. followed by dancing to the hoedown music of the Old Time Band. Admission is one watermelon.

On Saturday at 6 a.m. there will be a sunrise salute atop Freedom Hill and a barbecue lunch at noon with games and races at 2 p.m.