In 1982, Bill Strange went to the 4th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival with his camera in hand. Using his keen eye, he snapped some photos, developed the film and gave it to Dick Nichols, the festival’s executive director at the time, expecting nothing more than a thank you. Instead, he got a job offer.
Nichols asked Strange to be the festival’s official photographer, an offer he eagerly accepted for a post he has held ever since. When the gates open on the 37th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival today, Strange will be there, armed with his camera, to shoot his 33rd consecutive festival.
“It’s like a big family reunion every year,” the 70-year-old Strange said. “(I love) being part of something that’s successful and that’s done for the people of the community.”
Strange moved to Gilroy in 1979, which also happened to be the year of the very first Garlic Festival. He recalls its quaint beginnings when it was hosted on a ranch at the junction of Highway 101 and State Route 25 before moving to its current location at Christmas Hill Park. And at first, the festival was limited to just one side of the Christmas Hill Park and Strange recalls attendees being shoulder to shoulder, all wanting to revel in the garlicky goodness.
Strange has seen the festival change and expand into a culinary destination. But through its transformation, one thing has stayed the same: the dedication of the festival’s volunteers.
“I love the spirit of all the volunteers, of what everybody does,” Strange said. “It’s a real camaraderie with all the volunteers and all the people that work there. They’re just great and they inspire you to do this for the community.”
The festival’s volunteers, many of whom are working for specific organizations such as the Gilroy/Christopher High School Alliance Choir and Gilroy Gators Swim Team, see their hard work pay off in money for their programs. The more hours they log, the more money the festival gives back. For instance, the high schools’ Alliance Choir earned $13,150 while the Gators gained $11,048 for their time volunteering in 2014. To date, more than $10.6 million has been awarded back to the community—and Strange has helped that number grow each year.
For more than three decades, he has hustled from one side of the park to the other, shooting everything he can all three days from open to close. And when it’s all over, the money Strange has raised volunteering goes directly to Rebekah Children’s Services.
“I can’t even put into words how generous he is with his time and his expertise,” said Gilroy Garlic Festival Assistant Executive Director Joann Kessler, who has worked alongside Strange since 1990.
Strange’s photos are used year-round by the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association for its website and promotional materials, among other things. He also takes photos of the association’s advisory committee and committee chairs in addition to pre-festival events such as the Garlic Queen competition.
It’s been a long, interesting and garlic-filled road for Strange, and he has a plethora of treasured photos to remember it by. His most memorable moment came two years ago when he literally helped save a life.
He and former Dispatch photographer Lora Schraft happened upon a service dog suffering of heatstroke and they immediately radioed for help. The festival president that year was Dennis Harrigan, a veterinarian. He set up an IV for the dog, which saved its life.
“I felt pretty good about that. Dennis had told me if it had been any longer, the dog would’ve never made it,” Strange said.
Such memories have become even more valuable to Strange as he’s no longer living in Gilroy. Though he moved two hours northeast to Oakdale, the festival, and especially its people, keep him coming back. Plus, Kessler jokes that she won’t let him retire.
“I told him that he can’t retire until I retire—and don’t ask me when I’m going to retire,” she said with a laugh. “I think it keeps him young.”
Strange agrees and said attendees can expect to see him at festivals for many more years to come.
“People say, ‘you gonna do it next year?’ and I say, ‘I don’t know.’ I’m getting older,” Strange said. “But as long as I’m physically able, I’m going to keep coming back every year.”
