Special to Reflector-Chronicle
Bill and Helen Foerschler will be the grand marshals for the 5 p.m. Aug. 5 Western Downtown Parade.
The Foerschlers have lived a life of service to the community, particularly the Central Kansas Free Fair.
As youth both were involved with activities at the fair. Bill Foerschler served during World War II and after the war the couple became members of Dickinson County Rural Life Association in 1948. Many late summers were spent getting the Rural Life stand ready for fair. In 1960, Bill became manager of the sand had that position for 25 years. He later was superintendent of vegetable for the fair.
Helen was in many parades as a member of Sweet Adelines. With seven children, Helen was busy with many 4-H project helping them get ready for fair.
The Foerschlers continue to serve in other capacities, such as the Enterprise Nursing Home advisory board.
Judges selected for the parade have been selected, according to Jim English, a spokesman for the parade committee.
This year’s parade will be judged during the parade instead of before the parade.
“The parade committee feels fortunate in having some very noteworthy local community members accept this responsibility,” English said.
Diane Miller is mayor of the city and is in her second term as a member of the Abilene City Commission. Miller grew up in South Dakota and has been a resident of Abilene since 1971. She moved her when her husband was a assigned to Fort Riley while in the military. She has been involved in a number of local church and civic organizations, including the Sweet Adelines and St. Andrew’s Church. She also works in the family business, M&M Tire.
Ed Scheele is a professional exhibit designer and founder of ESA Designs. He has headed numerous museum projects, including the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. He has been the recipient of the top award from the International Association of Sports Museums. He has served as president of the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce and Arts Council and has been active in tourism.
Frank Jordan is a retired business partner at Abilene Animal Hospital. He served on boards including the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, Eisenhower Foundation and Great Plains Theatre. He is a charter member and past president of the Abilene Breakfast Optimist Club. He has been honored by the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association as its Veterinarian of the Year. He is a Hospice volunteer and serves as a Memorial Health System board member.
Karl Weissenbach is director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. He has been active in community affairs and instrumental forging collaborative efforts with other Abilene organizations and making the library available for a variety of community uses. He has developed partnerships with Kansas State University to bring speakers, programs and forums to Abilene.
Kimberly Thurston-Bynum is a regular volunteer and valued member of the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce. Thurston-Bynum and her husband, Sgt. Alan Bynum, who is serving with the 601st Cavalry Brigade in Iraq, moved with their children from Michigan. They plan to settle in Abilene after Sgt. Bynum’s retirement after 22 years of military service when he returns from Iraq.
Float seminar
The parade committee is planning to have a seminar to assist parade entrants in the best economic means of putting together a float for this year’s parade. The seminar is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Sterl Hall, 619 N. Rogers, in Eisenhower Park.
“For all those interested in finding ways to build a prize winning presentation by the most cost effective means, come to this special meeting,” English said.