Struthers School Foundation sponsors city's parade

July 2, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

By EMMALEE C. TORISK

STRUTHERS

When the previous sponsor of the city’s Fourth of July parade stepped down, members of the Struthers School Foundation for Educational Excellence knew they had to take over.

Not having a parade this year wasn’t an option.

“It’s an institution,” said Danny Thomas Jr., president of the foundation, which funds supplemental educational activities not provided by the school district. “The Fourth of July is not the Fourth of July without the parade around here.”

In its 37-year history, the parade has had a number of sponsors, including the city itself, the Struthers Baseball League and, most recently, the Struthers Business Association.

As the parade’s newest sponsor, the Struthers School Foundation has so far been responsible for acquiring trophies, rounding up judges and squaring away finances, Thomas said.

But a change in sponsorship doesn’t mean that much will be different, he added.

For the most part, the parade will still be the parade — three square miles filled with decorated trailers, clowns, classic cars, the high school’s marching band and more — thanks primarily to John Medvec, who, along with his family, has organized the city’s parade for nearly 30 years. It’s a lot of work, Medvec said, but he has fun doing it.

“I’ve been making sure that, every year, they have a parade in Struthers,” said Medvec, adding that planning for the parade often begins in January — or earlier. “I enjoy doing it because the city’s been good to me. I like to give back to my community what they’ve given me.”

The 37th annual Struthers Fourth of July Parade will start at noon Thursday, beginning at the Fifth Street Plaza, and will, for the first time, feature a grand marshal.

The Struthers School Foundation selected Jerry Schonhut, who organized the city’s first Fourth of July parade in 1976 as chairman of the Struthers Bicentennial Committee, for the honor.

For more information about the city’s Fourth of July parade, contact John Medvec, parade organizer, at 330-755-4596.