Dick and Karen Bradshaw The Delphi Lions Club named Dick and Karen Bradshaw as 2009 Christmas Parade marshals. The Bradshaws are the first husband and wife team to be chosen for the honor. They are known in the city both as owners of a long established business, Delphi Body Works, and as people who are dedicated to serving their community.

Dick graduated from Delphi High School in 1961 and attended Indiana University. He graduated in 1966 with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education. He went on to teach government, economics, social studies and industrial education in Chicago Heights, ILL. for 14 years.

The former Karen Janz also graduated from Delphi High School in 1961. This is where she and Dick met sitting across a table from each other in study hall. They were married for 45 years last September.

The couple has two sons, Matthew and Mark; who have given them five grandchildren. Matthew works with his parents as manager of the parts and repair department at the Body Works. Mark is a police officer in Nashville, Tenn., and owns a paint ball shop.

Karen attended Prairie State College where she was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Beta Gamma, Junior College Honor Societies. She returned to school later in life, earning a bachelor's degree in business and management in 1994.

In 1980, the Bradshaw family decided on a change of career and returned to their hometown where Dick joined his family business, the

Body Works.

"Dick and I are happy that we made the decision to return to Carroll County to raise our kids," Karen said.

Dick is past president of Carroll County Community Foundation, a member of Delphi Economic Development Commission, Carroll County at the Crossroads, Delphi Lion's Club and a graduate of Leadership Carroll County. In 1988, he received the Samuel Milroy award for promoting the economic and social well being of the city of Delphi.

He has received the Lion's Club Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated, humanitarian services, Indiana State Lions W.P. Wood Fellow Award. He received the Lions Club International and Delphi Lifetime Lions Membership Award for outstanding service to the Delphi Community and Delphi Lions Club in 2006. In 2007, he was inducted into the Carroll County Agriculture Hall of Fame. Dick enjoys golfing, fishing and motorcycles.

"Dick has done a lot for the Lions Club, Carroll County and for Delphi," said fellow Lion Ed Sholty. "His wife has done a lot too, (such as) helping to judge past parades."

Sholty said other Lions were very pleased with the selection of the Bradshaws. He describes Dick as a "go getter," and said he always encourages them and keeps them going.

According to Sholty, Dick was instrumental in replacing the suspension bridge in Riley Park after floods damaged it.

"He does it because he wants to, not for public relations," Sholty said.

Karen is a member of Kappa Kappa Kappa Sorority, a board member of the Wabash and Erie Canal Association, and treasurer of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. She organizes volunteers for the Canal Interpretive Center, helps with the Fourth of July Celebration and Christmas event; and manages the gift shop. If she cannot find anyone to volunteer, Karen goes in herself. She says she enjoys meeting many different people from many states.

She worked for dentists Tom Fouts and Robert Lucas and also for the Delphi Community School Corporation.

Karen said she enjoys spinning and reading. She said that she reads all of the children's books that are in the Interpretive Center gift shop before she buys them. She also likes gardening, quilting and traveling.

Together, the Bradshaws are members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Camp Tecumpseh Trailblazer Society and Junto Club.

"She's a busy gal," said Mary Crary who works with Karen in the Canal Center. "She is a pleasure to work with and will do anything asked of her," she said.

"It's really an honor to have people ask you to do this," Karen said. "There are lots of other people who are just as worthy, I think Delphi is a great town, and I'd like people to come and see it," she said.

The parade theme this year is, "An Old Fashioned Christmas," and will wind its way through town on Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.