Penns to lead Independence Day Parade
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Bill and Sue Penn

Bill and Sue Penn have lived and served in the Carroll County area all of their married life. Both grew up in and around Delphi - he was born and raised in Burrows and she was born in Mulberry and moved to Delphi when she was 16. Bill graduated from Delphi High School in 1951 and Sue graduated in 1954, however they did not know each other at that time. Life brought them together soon after and they married in 1956 at the Delphi Presbyterian Church, had three children which produced eight grandchildren and continue to live a life of service to others in this community.

"I enjoy the community service," Bill said. "I like helping other people and building things like walking paths and the swinging bridge. All the money we Lions make must be spent on

community service projects."

As a reward for their long service record, both combined and separate, Bill and Sue have been chosen Grand Marshals of the Delphi Independence Day Parade, sponsored by the Delphi Lions Club.

Bill has been a member of the Delphi Lions since 1977. Sue joined the Camden Lions because the Delphi Lions did not accept women members at the time. But they worked in unison to give countless hours to help serve the community.

Bill served Delphi Lions in most leadership capacities. He is a trustee for Leader Dog and for the Indiana Lions Holding Corporation of which he is the vice president and is a trustee in the Indiana Lions Foundation.

He managed the Aluminum Recycling Program for Toys for Tots for 16 years, amassing $400 each year for the toy program. He initiated a program to provide all the napkins needed to the Delphi Community School Corporation for the past six years. He helped to furnish the shop class with a $700 load of wood as well.

Bill received the Samuel Milroy Award from the Delphi Chamber of Commerce in 2001, the W.P. Wood Award and three Melvin Jones Awards from Delphi Lions and the Indiana Lions. He received a Presidential Award from Lions International.

Bill served three years in the United States Marine Corps, one year in Korea.

He is a 54-year member and a past commander of Delphi American Legion, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Delphi, and a 22-year member of the John Purdue Gold Coat Club. He is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

He was a Past Master and secretary of Mt. Olive Lodge #48 in Delphi, the Lafayette York Rite and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite of Indianapolis.

He is a member of Murat Shrine of Indianapolis and of the IOOF Lodge #28 of Delphi.

He retired from Fairfield Manufacturing after 40 years of employment.

Sue has not and does not sit idle at home. She worked for 19 years as a homemaker for the Division of Family and Children (formerly the Welfare Department) providing home visits "and helping people learn how to cook, clean and take care of their kids."

She was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash in 2000 and continues to work as a bus driver for DCSC.

The couple resides on Division Line Road throughout the year.

"We don't like Florida - only to visit," Sue said. "We love snow and we like to cut wood. We just like the winter months."

Besides providing service through the Lions, Bill mows the Delphi Masonic Cemetery.

The couple has attended 16 International Lions Conventions, 20 state conventions, and seven USA/Canada Forums. They have traveled on seven eyeglass missions and have visited England, Australia, Minneapolis, Denver, Detroit, St. Louis and Hong Kong as Lions ambassadors. They will return in early July from Bankok, Thailand, as voting representatives from Delphi and Camden at the International Lions Convention, just in time to lead Saturday's parade in Delphi.

"I think we were chosen as grand marshals for the parade because of our involvement with local, state and international Lions," Bill said. "It is a great honor to serve as grand marshals. We are being honored for our past service."

"I think it's exciting," Sue said. "We will be riding in the convertible and waving."

Parade organizer Bob Conner said choosing the Penns as parade marshals made a lot of sense to the club.

"We chose them because they are both very active and in two different Lions clubs," Conner said. "Bill is a valuable asset to our club. This is now a Lions-sponsored parade and we thought why not honor good Lions?"

Independence Day Parade in Delphi

When: Saturday, July 5
Time: 10 a.m. with a memorial service
on the courthouse lawn at 9:45.
Route: Parade winds through downtown
area before ending at Canal Park
Float Awards: To be presented at the
Canal Interpretive Center following
the parade completion
Parade Line-Up: Starts at 7:45 a.m. in
former Globe Valve parking lot