Ed Gruber to lead Delphi's Independence Day Parade

Gruber Carroll County native Ed Gruber, father of three, grandfather to eight and greatgrandfather to almost that many, was selected by the Delphi Lion Club to lead the 2009 Independence Day Parade. And although he considers the nod for the top slot an honor, he modestly insists others in the community are more deserving of the position.

"This is a special thing," he said. "I am honored to have been picked, but there are several other people who should have been chosen for this."

However, friend and canal association co-worker Dan Mc- Cain did not altogether agree with Gruber's assessment.

"Ed is a role model for all of our canal volunteers," he said when he learned Gruber was to be grand marshal. "He has so many skills. He is so involved. And he really deserves this honor."

Gruber said the parade tradition was started by the canal association in the 1990s and he was one of the first organizers. He said he used one of his wagons from the family farm west of Delphi as a float for a group that wanted to participate. Gruber said this year, as grand marshal, he will ride in the traditional convertible - but will wear canal-appropriate attire.

"I'll probably say something like 'more power to the canal with their new boat," he said. "As soon as the parade is over, I'm going back out on that boat!"

Gruber graduated from Pittsburg Grade School, Delphi High School and finally Purdue University in 1941 where he earned a Bachelor's degree in agriculture. However, he had the desire to learn to fly airplanes and entered a special course offered by the federal government called Civil Pilot Training. He learned how to train flight instructors in the program before World War II began.

Gruber was readied to fly for the military and joined the U.S. Air Force in the Southeast Training Command. He was made inactive immediately until the beginning of the war and was then sent to DAR Aerotech in Georgia in 1942. Gruber explained that Aerotech was a military school operated by civilians.

Gruber joined the Air Transport Command, a division of TWA Airlines, a military operation in 1945 and then began flying TWA domestic flights in 1946. He retired in 1979 after 40 years in aviation.

Gruber's son, Larry, of rural Delphi describes his father as a wise man who uses few words.

"You might have noticed that Dad isn't extremely talkative," he said. "However, I've learned over the years that when he does say something, it's worthwhile to listen."