YOUTH ATHLETIC PARADE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26th
Grand Marshal…
Roller Derby Hall of Fame Member
SAMMY SKOBEL

Every year we have a parade that officially opens our youth baseball and softball season. The parade begins here at the Village Hall on Saturday, April 26th at 10:00AM and travels north on Wolf Road and ends with a brief ceremony at the Hillside Commons. School bands, organizations, floats, representatives from our neighboring towns and, of course, the great kids that make up our teams, scouting groups and organizations, look forward to a morning of fun.

Traditionally, we are fortunate to have a Grand Marshal that has been instrumental in the sports field and this year is no exception. Many of our past parade sports personalities have remained close friends of our Village. Past Grand Marshals have been Billy Williams, Gary “the Sarge” Matthews, Lee Pitlock, Bill Melton, Milt Pappas, Dennis Hull, Jesse White, the late Elmer “Moose” Vasko, Ed O’Bradovich, Brian Baschnagel, Dennis McKinnon, Chris Zorich and Gene Pingatore and WGN sportscaster, Mike Barz.

Currently our 2003 Grand Marshal is Roller Derby Hall of Fame Member and Author of "Semka" SAMMY SKOBEL. Sammy earned three Most Valuable Player awards, set a world speed record on skates, wrote his autobiography “Semka”…all this accomplished by over coming one big obstacle…Sammy is blind.

In Sammy’s recently published autobiography “Semka”, he relives his challenges and triumphs. Refusing to succumb to his limitations, he decided to become a roller derby skater; and just any skater…but A CHAMPION. Sammy also founded and is the Executive Director of the American Blind Skiing Foundation. Sammy was the keynote speaker at former President Jimmy Carter’s “Night with the Carters” benefit held to support the physically challenged program of Crested Butte, Colorado. To quote Sammy, “A Winner is Never a Quitter and a Quitter Never Wins”.

In our quest for Grand Marshals to lead our annual parade, we try to find people who are looked upon as role models for our youth. This year, we know we have succeeded finding the Sports Hero who is a true role model not only for our youth but also for all of us.