Grand Marshal Jay Whitney Redd has both Roots and Boots

by Sally Jack
Contributing Writer
When it comes to ‘American Boots and Monticello Roots,’ Jay Whitney Redd, Grand Marshal of this year’s Pioneer Day Parade, has got both.
Jay Whitney comes from resilient pioneer stock, with San Juan County roots that reach back to his grandparents, Lemuel Hardison Redd, Jr. and Lucy Zina Lyman, who came through the Hole-in-the-Rock, settled in Bluff and later moved to Blanding.
Jay Whitney’s parents, Amasa Jay (A.J.) and Alice Marie Ekins Redd moved to Monticello in 1924. They had six children. Their youngest, Jay Whitney Redd, was born in 1936, just 26 years after Monticello was officially incorporated as a City. A Monticello-ite through and through, he has lived all but a few of his 90 years in Monticello.
His father A.J. managed the Monticello Cooperative Mercantile until 1951. The Co-op Store stood on the corner of Main Street and Second South where the Monticello Welcome Center currently stands. The adjacent barn which now houses the Frontier Museum once belonged to Jay Whitney’s father.
As a boy, Jay Whitney used to tell people, “My name is Buddy Brown.” The nickname stuck, and he has fondly been called Buddy by friends and family ever since.
Buddy was a pogo stick champion. One of his most unique accomplishments as a lad was the time he got on his pogo stick and hopped all the way from his house on First West to the County Courthouse on Main Street, then up the courthouse steps and back down them, across Maine Street, and home again without ever falling over.
He graduated from Monticello High school, attended Brigham Young University for a time, served as a missionary in the United States Southwest Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and then served in the United States Army.
Upon returning home from the Army, he met and married a cute girl named LaRaine Marx who had come to Monticello to teach school. They were blessed with a family of five girls: Pam, Candy, Jennifer, Marti and Merri Allyson.
He traded in his Army boots for cowboy boots and began a lifetime career of cattle ranching with his brother Wyman. They co-owned and operated Redd Livestock and also raised wheat and alfalfa. His five daughters learned to work alongside him, pulling calves, feeding the cattle, and driving the farm truck.
Though they worked hard, Buddy’s favorite slogan is, “You can rest when you’re dead, but today let’s play!” And according to his daughters, their family did know how to play and had a lot of fun together.
In addition to Army boots and cowboy boots, Buddy also wore ski boots and helped expand the Blue Mountain Ski area. He was a ski instructor and was also the one who would clear and scout the ski runs. Some of his daughters remember strapping on their first pair of skis at the age of four.
Jay Whitney helped map and create many of the trails in the San Juan Area, including the Salvation Knoll and Hook and Ladder trails. For years he gave guided tours as a part of the annual San Juan ATV Safari.
He has served four missions for his church, including one in Spain with his wife LaRaine. He had the privilege of being an ordinance worker in the early years of the Monticello Temple and has served in many stake and ward callings in his life.
Buddy’s wife LaRaine passed away in 2019. He has since married a lovely woman by the name of Shirley Anne Ashworth.
Jay Whitney Redd is honored to lead the 2026 Pioneer Day Parade with his wife Shirley by his side. He will be driving his Razor and wearing his signature Buddy Redd smile, and his Monticello boots. Be sure to wave at them as they go by!