When the Fort Thomas Fourth of July Committee got together to select this year’s grand marshal for the citywide Independence Day parade and celebration, their pick was obvious, said co-organizer Linda Slone.
The committee wanted to honor former City Administrator Ron Dill, the longtime city resident who retired last month after 37 years of service to the city.
“Every year we get together to decide who is going to be Grand Marshal. We have a list we add to from time to time, but as soon as Ron put in his resignation, I called Jim [Trauth, co-organizer] and said, this is a no-brainer. It’s got to be Ron,” she said. “Everybody agreed.”
This year’s parade will be on Saturday, July 2. A proclamation declaring the day “Ron J. Dill Day” will be presented at 10:15 a.m. on the steps of the Highland United Methodist Church (314 N. Fort Thomas Ave.), and the parade will kick off from there at 10:30 a.m. This year’s theme is “Together for a Shared Future.”
Slone said she noticed more participation and bigger crowds following the Covid lockdown of 2020.
“This year’s parade has 86 participants and most have more than one vehicle as well as walkers. Typically we have about 75,” she said. “Last year I felt there were more people on the sides watching the parade than ever before, even during our sesquicentennial. I think people just wanted to get out, to see something that was normal, and I think they still feel that way. I think we’ll have record crowds this year.”
About Ron Dill
Dill grew up in Fort Thomas. He came to city government while in college as an intern. After a little over a year working in construction, he returned to the city as building inspector/zoning administrator and worked his way up into the position of city administrator.
In addition to his career serving the city, he as been very active in a number of community organizations including Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Holly Hill Children’s Home and the Fort Thomas Education Foundation. He has coached both boys and girls sports teams in several different sports including basketball, knothole, soccer and junior football.
Dill is past president and currently serves on the board of the Code Administrators Association of Kentucky. He also served on the state Board of Housing, Building and Construction and was past president of the Northern Kentucky City Council Managers Association. He was chairman of the Fort Thomas School District Local Planning Committee, a member of the International Code Council/Region 5 Board and was a part-time instructor at Northern Kentucky University.
Local officials will be on hand to present Dill’s grand marshal proclamation signed by Fort Thomas Mayor Eric Haas, Kentucky State Rep. Joe Fischer (R-Ft. Thomas), Kentucky State Senator Wil Schroeder (R-Wilder) and Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery. He’ll also be made a Kentucky Colonel with a proclamation signed by Governor Andy Beshear.
Dill’s siblings will be on hand to carry the grand marshal banner, and he will be joined by his wife Cora and their five children.
More on the parade
Slone said she wanted to be sure to mention that this year’s parade will have a large military presence honoring veterans and active duty servicemen. Anyone in the military can march with the group. The military section includes 12 vehicles. The Fort Thomas reserve center is sending two trucks, and members of the National Guard Recruiting Office will also participate.
The military procession includes a large U.S. flag with 16 handholds that will be carried by members of the local Boy Scouts and others, Slone said. “We have spotters who will watch the crowd. As we are going along the Boy Scouts carrying the flag will lift it in honor of anyone they see in the crowd sporting apparel, including tshirts or hats, that indicate they are military.”
Three judges are lined up to select winning floats or participant groups in a variety of categories. The winners will be announced at the city’s August council meeting.