Walton to be grand marshal of Independence Day Parade
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Walton

Parade floats roll by, brimming with sounds and colors topped off by smiles beaming from participants and viewers alike.

The sight of the annual Delphi Independence

Day parade mixes fun with an opportunity to reflect on our country's history as the procession moves on.

After 13 years of putting together Delphi Independence Day Parade events with the Wabash & Erie Canal Association, Bob Walton decided to retire and let someone else have the honors. In return for all those years of dedicated service, he was asked by Delphi Lions Club, new parade sponsors as of this year, to be part of the event again this year.

But this time his job will be to ride in the comfort of a convertible. Walton was asked to be grand marshal for the parade's 14th running.

Walton and his wife, Doris, came to Delphi in 1961 when A.O. Smith Harvester asked him to move here to fill a position in their company.

"We liked it here," Walton said. "That's the main reason we stayed."

He was present at a canal association meeting in 1993 when the idea was born to create an Independence Day parade in Delphi. Although he didn't come up with the idea, he saw value in it and set out to make it happen.

After a successful start, the parade has held strong since. It boomed in its second year with approximately 160 entries. Since, numbers have leveled off to a healthy average of approximately 80 entries. Though he said he never knew for sure how many would enter until they showed up to register, Walton said he was always confident

the community would be ready to support the event.

This year, Walton's duties were minimal compared to his previous level of involvement. He said the Lions asked him to sit in on parade planning meetings this year, which he gladly did, but felt the club handled the task well.

Lions member Bob Conner offered thanks and congratulations to Walton for his efforts and shared high hopes that the club would continue the strong tradition started by the canal association.

"Mr. Walton did a wonderful job on the past 13 parades," Conner commented. "Building on what he established, we hope he sticks with it to give us a hand in the future."

The Waltons are members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Delphi. They have four children, Ken Walton, Kay Ross, Susan Yoki and Gary Walton.

Sharing a mutual hobby of traveling, the couple has visited every state and several countries. When all is said and done, though, they are glad to call Delphi home because of events like the parade that bring everyone together.

"It's been a real pleasure helping to organize something that gets so many people involved in the community," Walton concluded. "I have thoroughly enjoyed that.