New commodore at Shelton Yacht Club

Terry Mehl is this year's Shelton Yacht Club commodore.

Mehl chose the theme for this year's cruise schedule: "Doing More in 24." He and his wife, Donna, cruise in a Bayliner 3688 motor yacht, named Weather Wizard in homage to Mehl's Marine Corps career. They travel with a Shih Tzu, Rocky, and an African grey, Merlin.

After graduating from Redmond High School in 1972, Mehl joined the Marine Corps and married Donna after boot camp. The couple moved to Lakehurst, New Jersey, for Mehl's schooling.

Mehl was a weather forecaster for the Marines. After serving in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he retired as a gunnery sergeant.

The Mehls moved to Shelton, where Mehl helped open the Walmart. He then started a career in gambling, helping to open Little Creek Casino Resort. He was Little Creek's chief operating officer until 2009, general manager of Sky City Casino in Grants, New Mexico for two years, and then executive director of gaming for Black Oak Casino in California.

Mehl retired in March 2020, and the couple returned to Washington. They have a daughter and son who live locally, and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all who live in Washington.