Champaign County Freedom Celebration History
By Bert Marett (written in 1976)
About twenty seven years ago, a group of local businessmen had a meeting one afternoon on the front porch of Dr. Osborne’s house in Champaign. This group, as I recall, consisted of Mal Hickman, who was at that time Secretary of the Association of Commerce in Urbana; Jim O’Neil, a prominent insurance man of Champaign; and myself. We were disturbed about the death toll on the highways during the Fourth of July weekend, and during that time period. I mentioned that I had visited many cities in the course of my operations, and had noticed that a parade and fireworks really held the townspeople and it kept them off the highways.
Nothing more was said at that time but apparently Jim O’Neil, who was connected with the Chamber of Commerce in Champaign, thought enough of the idea to broach the subject to the Chamber of Commerce. About a month later, I received a phone call, asking me if I would consent to join the committee and take over the pyrotechnics of the operation. I said yes and we had many meetings. We had no money, however, and decided to each take a department, check, and get a cost for that department. We came up withy a total figure of around $8,500. But we still had no money, and the big question was how to get it.
Now here is where the man who really put this program over and has not received full credit for it entered the picture. His name is Phil Hundley of the News Gazette. He was the editor of the News Gazette, and not only controlled that newspaper but the radio station as well. He advertised the program in the newspaper and over the radio, and donations began to come in. The idea was taking hold, but we still did not have enough money.
Phil came up with the idea of having a porch light parade. We sectioned off the twin cities, Champaign and Urbana, and asked for volunteers to make the collections. Anyone who wished to donate would just put his or her porch lights on a certain night, and a car, truck or even a “duck” would pull up to their house and take the donation. Meanwhile, one of the mainstays of the entire project, Lyle Blue, was standing by taking notes and counting the money. He relayed the sum to Larry Stewart, who was the broadcaster of the radio station, and who did a yeoman job in keeping the townspeople aware of how the donations were coming in. He had announced that evening, if we made our goal, I would have Joe Porcheddu set off an aerial display at the radio station. Of course, in those days the radio station was out in the country south of town, and there were no houses around.
Joe came over with the aerial display, set up the mortars, and finally (I think it was around 11 o’clock that night) Larry Stewart announced that we had met our goal. I gave the word to Joe, and he set off the display. We were not entirely sure how this whole thing was going over, but Joe had set up a 24-inch panoramic bomb; and in the light of it, we saw that every farm road was lined bumper to bumper on both sides with people waiting to see the display. This gave us a clue, and we got a lot of heart from that, and went to work. From this humble beginning, the idea has mushroomed into the celebration you see today.
I would like to mention a few of the people who were invaluable in helping us ,such as Joe Blaze, who was head of security at the University of Illinois; Paul Cruikshank, who was instrumental in getting us the stadium after the first disaster of too long a parade and too small a place to seat people, the County Fairgrounds; Wallace Ewing; and many others. After so many years, it is hard for me to recall all of the names, but credit should be given to Clara Hodges, who took notes, on every meeting we had; Squeaky Ingleman, Alan Carter, and many other men and women. Credit for the revival of the Spirit of ’76 in the parade should go to your own Board member, Ron Smith, who brought it back after it had been dropped for several years, and who can recall the fried chicken and ice cold pop and the bar in the back of the Lincoln under the stands.
In closing, may I say it has been a very rewarding experience for me, and my wish is that this celebration will never end.
Notes on Bicentennial Celebration July 4, 1976
By Ronald J. Smith, Board of Directors
The Fourth of July Freedom Celebration, Inc. had the responsibility of “sponsoring, promoting and directing a community-wide observance and celebration of the anniversary of the Declaration Of Independence in a manner that emphasizes the basic ideals and principles upon which the United States was founded. The observance to be non-commercial in nature without benefit to any individual.”
The officers of this celebration began meeting in November of 1975 to elect new officers and assign committees. They continued until July 4, 1976.
Tom Heinhorst, Treasurer, reported that our receipts for 1976 totaled $38,000.00. Our disbursements were $20,000.00. This, plus a cash balance of $8,000.00 on hand from 1975, plus the $14,000 surplus in 1976 leaves us with a balance of $22,000.00 for the 1977 celebration. It should be noted that our main receipts ($13,000.00) are derived from door collections at the Stadium in the evening, and the largest expenditures are: the fireworks in the evening, $6,000; the University of Illinois bill for services rendered, $7,000.00; and $5,000.00 for the parade.
July 4, 1976, was a bright, clear and sunny day. Our parade began at 1:05 P.M. and the route was as follows: start at Coler and Green in Urbana, proceed West to First Street in Champaign, then proceed South on First to a point near Peabody Drive. The route was two miles long, as it has been for several years.
The parade included 170 units, consisting of floats, marching bands, clowns and many other groups, to bring enjoyment to those in attendance. Young and old alike came to view the parade and it was estimated that 75,000 to 100,000 people lined the route. The theme for the parade was “Sprit of ’76”
In the evening, an estimated 45,000 people went to the Stadium to enjoy a varied program of entertainment which concluded with the traditional fireworks.
It is hoped that the above notes will be of interest to those of the future and give them an insight to the greatest Fourth of July celebration ever.
Past Events
| Year | Theme | Grand Marshal | Board President |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | TBD | TBD | *Pam Lukemire |
| 2022 | Renewing the Spirit of America | Mike Haile | *Pam Lukemire |
| 2021 | No Theme | No Parade, Fireworks only | *Gus White |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID | ZERO (COVID) | *Gus White |
| 2019 | Flight in Space | David C. Leake | *Gus White |
| 2018 | Salute to Veterans | Garret Anderson | *Pam Lukemire |
| 2017 | Salute To Education | Dr. Peter Schiffer | *Margaret Givens |
| 2016 | Celebrate America | Tom Ramage | *Alicia Lowrey |
| 2015 | Flying High for Freedom | Rudy Frasca | *Marie Polk |
| 2014 | Celebrating Community Volunteers | United Way of Champaign | Chris Bell |
| 2013 | United We Stand, Proudly We Serve | Local Police & Fire Departments | *Ginny Schlorff |
| 2012 | Celebrating our Youth | Girl Scouts | *Val Koble |
| 2011 | Discovering New Frontiers | Wayne Weber | *Margaret Givens |
| 2010 | 150 Years of Local Heroes | Katherine Ruetter | Don Wauthier |
| 2009 | The Lasting Legacy of Lincoln | Abraham Lincoln as played by Steve Shoemaker | Scott Freidlein |
| 2008 | Honoring Our Military Heroes | Marty Conatser | Don Wauthier |
| 2007 | Celebrating Free Enterprise | George Shapland | Cathy McArthur |
| 2006 | Broadcasting Our Freedoms | Jim Manley | Cathy McArthur |
| 2005 | Caring for our Community | Judy Fraser | Ken Horn |
| 2004 | America -- Be All That You Can Be | Ericka Harold | John Olden |
| 2003 | Education, A Cornerstone of Freedom | Dr. Zelema Harris | Rick Kallmayer |
| 2002 | A Free Press, A Free People | Marajen Chinigo | Mike Kobel |
| 2001 | A Celebration of America's Parks and Recreation | Robert Toalson | *Val Koble |
| 2000 | Leading America into the Future | James Stuken | Greg Abbott |
| 1999 | Celebrating Years Gone By | Past Presidents of CCFC | Mike Brandt |
| 1998 | Dave Swan | ||
| 1997 | Help Others Reach the Stars | Don Moyer | Pete Elmer |
| 1996 | Builders of Pride | Lou Henson | George Krueger |
| 1995 | A Tribute to World War II | Veterans of World War II (6 people) | Pat Dixon |
| 1994 | Bonnie Blair | Denny Birt | |
| 1993 | Celebrate America | *Val Koble | |
| 1992 | Americans: Patriots and Proud | Wanda Lou Ziegler | Bill Brunkow |
| 1991 | Stars and Stripes Forever | Ann Power Wildman | |
| 1990 | The Bill of Rights: 200 Years of Freedom | Frederick Green | Claudia Friedman |
| 1989 | A Salute to Hometown Volunteers | Volunteers from local service organizations | Dick Moses |
| 1988 | Freedom First | Larry Stewart | Sue Dawson |
| 1987 | We the People... | Richard Thies | Tom Heinhorst |
| 1986 | America: Torchlight of Freedom | Monique Baux | Tom Costello |
| 1985 | Portraits in Patriotism | Michelle Raymond, Terry Prinn & Terry Mulligan | [vacant] |
| 1984 | A Salute to Champaign County's Winners | Mindy Slack | |
| 1983 | John Neils | Mark Netter | |
| 1982 | American History on Parade | Major General Norma Brown, USAF | Jane Henneman |
| 1981 | We the People /or/ Patriotic & Proud | Emmerson Dexter | Bill Brinkman |
| 1980 | Cheris the Past, Conserve the Future | Joe Rider | John Marshall |
| 1979 | Elvira Barringer | Jim Rogers | |
| 1978 | Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind | Darth Vader | Chet Neff |
| 1977 | It's a Small World | Cookie Monster | Norris Schlueter |
| 1976 | Spirit of 76 | Bert Marrett | *Leonard Doyle |
| 1975 | We the People | *Leonard Doyle | |
| 1974 | Heritage at Home or Holiday at Home | Sam Leeper | |
| 1973 | America is Children | Louis Stolz | |
| 1972 | Happiness on America's Independence Day or Happiness is... | Dale Thuney | |
| 1971 | Keep America... | Ron Smith & Dale Thuney | Ronald Smith |
| 1970 | America -- The Possible Dream | Charles Metzel | |
| 1969 | A Salute to America | Robert Woodworth | |
| 1968 | One Hundred and Fifty Years of Progress | William Shoemaker | |
| 1967 | Anniversary Time | Honorary Co-chairmen: Major General James E. Robers, USAF, and President David Dodds Henry | Frank Schooley |
| 1966 | Wallace Ewing | ||
| 1965 | Jim Smith | ||
| 1964 | Salute to America | Glenn Kelley | |
| 1963 | Theron Ingelman | ||
| 1962 | James Updike | ||
| 1961 | Dale Boyer | ||
| 1960 | Our American Heritage | Larry Stewart | |
| 1959 | Jerry Dobrovolney | ||
| 1958 | Youth, Democracy, & Prosperity | Marion Cooper | |
| 1957 | Lyle Blue | ||
| 1956 | Joe Blaze | ||
| 1955 | Paul Cruikshank | ||
| 1954 | Phil Hundley | ||
| 1953 | Otis Meyers | ||
| 1952 | Tom Larabee | ||
| 1951 | Jim O'Neil | ||
| 1950 | Jim O'Neil | ||
| 1949 | New committee formed |
* Active Board or Committee Member
