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Press Release
Please Read!
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Parade Applications
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Simply print the application out and mail it to us! It's that easy to participate!!
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Parade enteries will be called a few days before the parade regarding time and where to report
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All new for 2009!!!
For Crown Point July 4th 2009 Parade & Fireworks
information, see links on left side of this page!!
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Grand Marshal:
John Dockus
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We are pleased to introduce John Dockus as this year's 4th of July parade Grand Marshall. John has been a good friend to Crown Point for many years through his community involvement and as owner of Barney's Hub Bootery shoe store.
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John was born in 1948 in Hammond. His father, Barney grew up in Cicero, IL and met his mother, Mildred at a dance studio in Chicago. For years, John's father was a draftsman for the City of Chicago and commuted from Crown Point via the train. His mother, along with her brother, Sonny Huber, opened a grocery store in Crown Point in 1929, as the Great Depression began. Her success at the store during trying times and her entrepreneurial spirit led her later to open Hub Bootery with her husband in 1949. In 1953, Barney left the City of Chicago's employ and became involved full time in the family shoe business. Many of you will remember that for years in the 1960s, the Dockus's had two stores: Hub Bootery on the east side of Main Street and Barney's Shoes and Boots directly across the street on the west side. In the early 1990s, the two stores consolidated back into one Barney's Hub Bootery located on the east side of the square, where it still resides today.
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Growing up in Crown Point allowed John to attend grade school at St. Mary's and high school at Andrean. His postsecondary education was spent in the study of Business Administration and marketing at Xavier University in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1970. The focus of his education was built on the dream of coming back to Crown Point and being involved in his parent's business.
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When John graduated from college the family business was still structured with his mother running Hub Bootery (catering to ladies) and his father running Barney's Shoes and Boots (catering to men and boys). Because the volume of business, and therefore the need, was greater at Hub Bootery, John started his career at that location.
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At the urging of one of his mentors, his uncle Sonny, John became involved in the Crown Point Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity, he could work on another passion helping Crown Point's downtown business district thrive. Over the years, John has held many posts with the Chamber including chairing the "Retail Activity Committee, " becoming a board member in the late 1970s and ultimately being the Chamber president in the early 1980s.
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One of the biggest events of the Festival Days' celebration is the annual Chamber Corn Roast. This event was started in the early 1970s by Frank Beck, the owner of Beck's Crown Bakery. A few years later, when Frank was ready to focus on other matters and the future of the Rib and Corn Roast dinner was in question, John, Dave Huber and Rick Lindau stepped in to continue what was becoming a new Crown Point tradition. At one point in the mid 1970s, the Chamber served 1,200 dinners. Because of John's, Dave's, and Rick's efforts the Corn Roast has become a much anticipated Festivals Days' event.
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John was also involved in the fundraising for the building of St. Anthony's Hospital. Bringing quality health care to Crown Point was an important issue in the earlier 1970s and bringing the hospital to Crown Point took on economic significance when the Lake County government moved its offices from the old courthouse to the new one located off of 93rd and Main Street. It was John's passion for quality of life issues and his desire for Crown Point's continued economic vibrancy which has made him the visionary community leader he is.
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Perhaps John's most eternal impact has been in his work at St. Mary's Catholic Church. In the mid 1980s, he attended a retreat which led him to be called into the youth "Faith Formation " ministry at St. Mary's. This was a life changing event which caused him also to become involved in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) ministry. Through these activities John is able to share Jesus with others. John is a disciple of the teaching of St. Josemar ia Escriva de Balaguer who said, "We have to sanctify our work, we have to sanctify ourselves in our work, and we have to sanctify others through our work. "
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As a community we are thankful for John Dockus's work and our proud to recognize him as this year's Grand Marshall.
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The Crown Point July 4th Celebration Committee, Inc.
will endeavor to stay as current as possible!!!
Our website is designed to help patrons and parade viewers keep up with the planning and process
involved with putting on the largest 4th of July Parade and Fireworks display in Indiana.
An all new Committee for 2009, we are actively seeking volunteers for our hometown celebration on July 4, 2009
...Consider Volunteering!
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