By Jean Schurman
The Corvallis American Legion Post #91 and the Ladies Auxiliary are the producers behind the scenes at the Corvallis Memorial Day Parade. In 2015, right after that parade, they made the decision to honor law enforcement in 2016 by asking Sheriff Chris Hoffman to be the Grand Marshal. When they asked Hoffman this winter, he said he was so honored.
“Normally I get to lead it, and that is a great honor,” he said. “This year, Undersheriff Steve Holton will lead the parade.”
Hoffman and his wife, Ginny, will be seated in the Grand Marshal’s float. They will be representing all of the law enforcement officers and their families from throughout the valley. Hoffman said that here in the valley, there is tremendous support for law enforcement and is proud to serve the community.
Hoffman has always called Corvallis home even though he spent a lot of his youth in Nashville, Tennessee. His mother, Peggy Huls, met his father, Don Hoffman, at the University of Montana. His father was a radio announcer who had aspirations in the music business so he moved the family back to Nashville. But summers and holidays were spent here in Montana at Huls Dairy, where all of his extended family worked and played.
He attended two years of high school in Nashville but then graduated from Corvallis High School in 1977. He then enlisted in the Army. Midway through his tour, he married Ginny, whom he had met while attending high school in Nashville. Upon completion of his tour, he returned to the valley where he worked several jobs around the valley including at the dairy and at the creamery located on Main Street in Hamilton. He spoke with the sheriff, Dale Dye, about becoming an officer but there were no openings. Dye advised him to go back to Nashville, get some education and experience at the police department. Dye knew that Sheriff Hoffman had family back east and felt he would be able to gain the experience he needed.
Hoffman enrolled at Aquinas College in Nashville where he studied criminal justice. Midway through his first semester, he was hired by the Nashville Police Department. He spent five years working in Metro, about as far removed from the valley as he could be in terms of society. But even as he worked patrol, he wanted to bring his growing family back to the Bitterroot and home.
That dream was realized in 1990 when Sheriff Jay Printz hired Hoffman. Hoffman then moved across the street to the Hamilton Police Department in 1993. There, he worked patrol, became the school resource officer and eventually a detective. In 2003, he ran for, and was elected to, the office of Ravalli County Sheriff.
“I think I started thinking about becoming sheriff fairly early in my career, but it was more of a pipe dream at the time,” he said. “But I’m a lucky guy. Every goal I’ve set, I’ve been lucky enough to attain it.”
When Hoffman first came to the sheriff’s office, there were 14 sworn officers, three jailers, a civil clerk and about six dispatchers. Today there are 31 sworn officers, several administrative clerks, about 16-20 detention officers and 20 reserve officers. Of course, the population of the valley has increased and that is reflected in the number of calls the sheriff’s office responds to.
Through it all, Ginny has been by his side. The couple has three children who all attended Corvallis schools. Ginny serves on the Corvallis School Board and is active in other community groups. Now, they also have four grandchildren whom they love to spend time with.
Hoffman said he is looking forward to seeing old friends at the parade and concluded, “what a privilege it has been to serve the community. What it has meant to my family, I am so humbled.”
The parade will be held Monday, May 30 at 10 a.m. on Corvallis’ Main Street. The theme is “Law Enforcement – Keeping Us Safe Through Sacrifice.”