'It's nostalgia': HOF Grand Parade dodges rain, thrills spectators with balloons, NFL legends

CANTON − Two minutes remained until the Canton Repository Grand Parade was set to start on Saturday morning.

Stan Myers and Connie Winkler, both retirees of the newspaper, waited and looked straight ahead at the roughly 25-block route on Cleveland Avenue.

Each of them held an opposite end of a banner signaling the beginning point of the annual and storied tradition during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival .

To their front was a row of police officers on motorcycles. To their rear was a towering balloon of a football player emblazoned with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's logo.

"It's nostalgia because I used to cover the parade for 40 years or more," said the 76-year-old Myers, a former Repository photo editor and photographer. "It's nice to see so many people enjoying themselves in downtown Canton."

Winkler stood in her trademark high heels, despite the brick and pavement ahead.

"I worked for years in high heels, and I'm more comfortable in them than flat shoes," she said with a laugh. Plus, it's a hit with parade goers. Even when she's out in public, folks have recognized her as the lady who wears heels in the parade.

"I (volunteer) because of the excitement of people enjoying the parade," Winkler said enthusiastically.

The duo summed up the reason why so many people crowded the street, sitting in chairs or in reserved bleacher spots or gazing down from a perch in a parking garage.

Children sat on the shoulders of parents or on a grandmother's lap. Others stood and jockeyed for a good view of one of the annual festival's most cherished events.

Spectators had lots to look at − marching bands, cheerleaders, classic cars, colorfully and wildly-dressed football fanatics, military veterans, floats and more.

Football greats galore rode along the route seated in the back of convertibles: Dan Fouts, Tony Dorsett, Steve Largent, Steve Atwater, Drew Pearson, Tony Dungy, Charlie Joiner, James Lofton, Morten Andersen and many others, as well as the 2024 class of enshrinees. They waved and smiled to adoring fans who shouted their names and offered congratulations.

The parade ended early at around 10:10 a.m. due to thunder and the threat of rain and severe weather. However, it started at 8 a.m., and most of the parade occurred uninterrupted, said Kelly Piero of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Repository reporters took to the route in the early morning in search of good stories and fun fans.

Here's what they found.

Does walking a balloon take practice?

Nearly two hours before the parade was set to start, a group of employees from Synchrony in Stark County was gathered near the balloons.

They would be guiding a balloon resembling the pink piggy bank character in the "Toy Story" movies.

"We don't practice," said Jody Bennett, crediting the balloon coordinator for directing them. "We just show up and learn. We spin (the balloon) as we step off (on the parade route)."

Plus, "ours is a little pig," said Kelly Jones, who admitted she wanted no part of helping steer a larger balloon.

Houston Texan Andre Johnson gets a cool float

Among the most eye-catching floats was one by the Houston Texans featuring a big statue-like figure of Andre Johnson, a former star wide receiver who is being enshrined with the 2024 class.

Kern Studios of New Orleans had constructed the float. Employees Clarence Lundgren and Joe Bevinetto flew to town. The float was shipped.

Standing around 10 feet tall, the Johnson sculpture was made of fiberglass over a steel frame.

"It's great to be part of Andre's day," Bevinetto said. "We built the float for him. He did the work (as a football player.) He hasn't seen it completed, and he was excited."

'Debbie the Texan' was in town

Debbie Brannon, also known as "Debbie the Texan," was among the super fans representing their favorite teams on a float for the Pro Football's Ultimate Fan Association.

"It's finally our turn this year," she said of a Texans player being inducted into the hall. "I'm so excited. It's such an honor."

Festively dressed in a glittery cowboy hat and red tasseled cowboy boots, she's been a passionate fan of the Texans for 22 years.

"My daughter actually got me into it," the mother said with a smile. "She's obsessed."

Parade grand marshal is 9-year-old student

Zerina Brown, 9, was the parade's grand marshal. She will be entering the fourth grade at St. Paul Catholic School in North Canton.

So, how did she get such a distinguished title?

While riding along in a bright red car, Zerina's mom, Sabrina Shilad, said it was a prize from the Angel Auction held by the Aultman Women's Board.

"She's so excited," Shilad said while her daughter smiled and waved to onlookers, including some who shouted her name with excitement. "It's such an honor."

Panthers bring the purrcussion

The Carolina Panthers sent the PurrCussion Drumline to the parade.

Jason Meyer, percussion coordinator, said the band was joined by the TopCats cheerleaders.

"One of the greatest parts of being here in Canton is the camaraderie and family we have developed," he said. "It's such a prestigious honor, and just the fact we get to partake in that and celebrate is very special."

World War II veteran is moved to tears

Bill Pilati, 99, rode in a World War II-era vehicle behind a Jeep that pulled a wagon featuring a replica memorial of the soldiers from the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The Minerva resident served with the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion for the Army. He recalled his service in sharp detail, including basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma after he was drafted in 1943. Pilati's unit fought their way through Southern France, Luxembourg, Belgium and into Holland.

"I think it's a history that's being forgotten," Pilati said of World War II. "... To win the war was just unbelievable."

When discussing the soldiers who didn't make it home like he did, Pilati's eyes moistened with tears as his voice trailed off.

Pulled by an authentic World War II-era vehicle, the float also included Doug Perry, who was dressed as General Douglas MacArthur, a role he's played in the parade for about 10 years.

Perry, an Army veteran who served in the 1970s, said representing War World II is important "because we're not really taught history, and this is to keep it alive."

Fans for every team

There were many Cleveland Browns jerseys settled into the parade crowd, but the Pittsburgh Steelers had a strong turnout as well, lighting flames of contempt, but also comradery, for the two fanbases.

Benjamin Schneider, a Canton resident, said he’s been coming to the parade his whole life, and he looks forward to the possibility of seeing players from his team in the parade.

“There’s always a Hall of Famer here,” he said. “Someone from the Steelers always shows up."

Schneider, 27, said he and his family have a common tradition for when they see parade balloons flying by them.

“We’re gonna make all the big balloons spin,” he said. “We yell ‘Spin!’ That’s a big thing with our family.”

Former McKinley quarterback Roch Hontas: 'This is entirely different'

Roch Hontas, the well-known former quarterback for Canton McKinley High School, made the trek to Canton all the way from New Orleans for the enshrinement festivities.

“If you’ve ever seen a Mardi Gras parade, it’s something you’ll never forget," he said. "This is entirely different. I really enjoyed the big difference of a real nice crowd watching all the inductees and the former inductees and all the bands, and it’s so much different than we’re now accustomed to.”

Hontas said the parade connects him to his time at McKinley, and he’s happy he was able to make it back to Canton this year.

“McKinley is part of a fabric of this city, and I just feel so blessed that I was able to be a part of that growing up,” he said.

Representing the black and gold

Theophilus Satterwhite, 56, came to the parade prepared to represent his team. The Akron native was seen near the back leg of the parade route next to his Jeep, which was adorned with Steelers banners and memorabilia.

He made sure to make playful jabs at Browns fans if they passed by him.

“We may hate each other on the team, but we have fun about it,” he said. “We just talk back and forth.”

Fans of the band

Aaron Smith, 38 has been attending the parade since he was a kid.

“My brother was in the marching band at Canton South,” he said. “I’ve been coming since I was in high school.”

He came to the parade with his wife, Rebeka, and his two kids, Julia and Owen.

“The kids like the floats and watching them spin,” he said. “All the music’s good, (and) seeing what different floats are coming down (and) what people came up with this year.”

Parade is family tradition

Dianne Kager, 71, of Canton, used to watch the parade in awe as a kid. Now she attends the extravaganza to watch her granddaughter in the color guard.

"This will probably be my last one because it's my granddaughter's last one," she said of the senior at East Canton High School.

Kager also enjoys the pleasant vibe of the parade.

"It shows people have respect for people," said Kager, who sat along the route downtown with her daughter, Lisa Kager. "And that's what they need to do. I'm tired of violence. Quit the fighting (in society); it doesn't make any sense."

Broncos fans 'from the womb to the tomb'

A trio of Denver Broncos fans stood up and cheered with delight as football legend Randy Gradishar cruised past their bleacher section.

All three were bedecked in vintage No. 53 jerseys for Gradishar, a former star linebacker and cog in the famed "Orange Crush Defense" of the late 1970s.

Robert Romero, 59, formerly of Denver, said he never misses a parade when a Broncos player is enshrined, dating back to quarterback John Elway.

Flashing a grin, Romero said he grew up as a fan "because it's from the womb to the tomb."

Joining him were his brother Joey Romero, 55, of Denver, and Evelyn Pedrin, 58, of Denver.

Parades aren't just for kids

Tiffany Whipkey, 34, of Jackson Township, enjoyed the parade while holding her 2-year-old daughter.

Also with the group were her nieces and nephews; it's a tradition to bring them.

"We have a sleepover, and then we come over to the parade," Whipkey said as she raised her voice over the instruments of Champion High School's marching band. "We're all hanging out here and enjoying each other."

Taking in the scenes and sounds is even better as an adult.

"I would say definitely bringing them is way better than when I was younger because it's way better to see them experience it."

Camping out along the parade route

Darnell Martin, 32, of Cleveland, showed up downtown around 2:30 a.m. Saturday with his family to stake out a prime spot. They also set up a tent so they could relax and take a break when needed.

The Stark County native grew up going to the parade. But this was the first one for his wife and his 4-year-old son.

"I think that the word that I could use to describe my son's feeling (about the parade) is mesmerizing," the father said.

Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: 'It's nostalgia': HOF Grand Parade dodges rain, thrills spectators with balloons, NFL legends