By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Local vet wins inaugural Mayor's Quilt Award
Quilt award
Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth helps inaugural Mayor's Quilt Award winner Wallace Sanford display his patriotic quilt during Tuesday's City Council meeting. - photo by KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal

Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth has been asked to judge a number of community contests from pumpkin carving to pie baking and gingerbread house making. The Mayor can now add quilting to his list of judging duties as he was asked to award the inaugural Mayor's Quilt Award at the Turlock Quilt Guild's Threads of Beauty show on Feb. 6.

While Soiseth said judging all the quilts at the show was "intimidating," he was able to select a winner.

"There was one quilt that stood out above the rest. I kept walking around and walking around, and it was this guy named Wally Sanford who made this absolutely awesome patriotic quilt," said Soiseth during the presentation of a City of Turlock proclamation to Sanford at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Sanford, a World War II Navy veteran, began quilting in 2005 at the age of 79 while recovering from quadruple bypass surgery.  He combined his new-found talent for quilting with a desire to honor fellow service members by donating his works of art to Quilts of Honor, an organization which bestows quilts to those who serve in the Armed Forces as a token of thanks, solace and remembrance.

"I appreciate this honor," Sanford said after displayed his award-winning red, white and blue themed quilt during the City Council meeting.