Johnsons receive MTA’s top honor
“Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States.
That quotation is often displayed at Montana Tavern Association events, and it's fitting that Orville Johnson and his wife Yvonne, owners of the Yacht Basin Bar and Restaurant at Canyon Ferry Lake just outside of Helena, are this year's winners of the Durkee Award, the Association's highest honor.
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| Orville and Yvonne Johnson with award. |
While Orville was still in a minor state of shock following the presentation of the award, he reflected on his years in business and his service to MTA and its member associations, and said quietly, “I guess I've really come to be a believer in what Teddy Roosevelt said about business associations.”
Orville and Yvonne Johnson purchased the Yacht Basin Bar, Restaurant and Marina (they sold the marina portion of the business 17 years ago) in 1979 and are the third owners of that business, which has become a Canyon Ferry landmark over the years. Prior to going in the bar and restaurant business Orville had a logging company.
Orville and Yvonne have worked out their roles in the business. Orville generally works in the kitchen doing the cooking and doing maintenance during non-business hours, while Yvonne runs the office and does bartending, but, as she points out, “We both do whatever needs to be done.”
They didn't immediately get involved with their tavern associations, but in 1983 the MTA convention was held in Helena and as Yvonne recalls, “We went to the trade show and then immediately joined MTA.”
They also joined the Tri-County Tavern Association at the same time and immediately became active, and Yvonne notes they haven't missed an MTA convention since 1987.
In making the Durkee Award presentation, banquet emcee Mark Staples noted that this year's award was going to someone who never sought recognition and likes to work behind the scene. Orville hasn't been president of anything but has long been an alternate delegate to the MTA Board of Directors. With a grin he says, “I love that job. I like to be in the background.”
Yvonne has served as secretary-treasurer for both the Tri-County Association and for the Montana Tavern Association.
“I think I'm the longest serving secretary-treasurer,” she says of her service with the Tri-County group.
Both Orville and Yvonne have served on the MTA budget committee. Mentioning his belief in the Roosevelt quotation, he said, “We believe strongly we have to participate and give back to the organization.”
Orville and Yvonne have been married 44 years and have two daughters and a son, plus two grandchildren. While none of their offspring wanted to get involved with their parents’ business, Yvonne notes, “They've all helped out.”
“They know how to work. Our older daughter worked the marina and the younger one worked in the restaurant. Our son worked in the kitchen. Now he works for the Forest Service, but he still makes a mean steak.”
Both Orville and Yvonne have been active in other areas of community service. Yvonne is a retired EMT. Orville is a former chief of the local volunteer fire department and continues to serve on the board of the Canyon Ferry Cabin Owners Association and on the board of the fire department.
Yvonne enjoys the opportunity to get away from the pressures of work by participating in the Sweet Adelines, the international organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony.
She is a member of both the Helena and Missoula chapters of the Sweet Adelines and through these organizations has traveled to many competitions, regionally, nationally and internationally, and has fully enjoyed these travel opportunities as well as the opportunities to sing and perform for many audiences.
Orville and Yvonne were still trying to process the honors given to them by the Montana Tavern Association when they were interviewed, with Orville saying, almost word for word what last year's honorees Frank and Myrt Marottek said, “I was looking around and trying to figure out who Mark was talking about.”
Yvonne adds with a smile, “I guess that it's probably in recognition of all the hearings we've attended,” going on to talk about all the legislative hearings they have attended on behalf of the Tri-County Association and MTA, often dropping everything on a moment's notice to get to the capitol to testify on legislation, the penalty for living close to Helena.
Yes, they've earned those honors and then some.