Grand marshal Larry Stork has been in public service for 33 years
Being behind the wheel is a common occurrence for Larry Stork during city parades in Noblesville. For the past six years Stork and his wife, Sally, have helped move golf carts from Forest Park to downtown Noblesville for the annual Fourth of July and Christmas parades.
This year, Stork will relinquish the keys as he moves from parade volunteer to grand marshal.
“I’m relieved of my duties this year, but next year I get downgraded,” he joked. “It’s an honor and a double honor to me to be among the group of people like (former grand marshals) Dale Snelling and Pat Logan.”
Stork said the lingering question about the parade is how crowded the backseat might be.
“My grandchildren haven’t decided if they will ride with me or stay on the street and get candy,” he said. “It may not be decided until the day of.”
The annual parade is Stork’s favorite Noblesville holiday tradition.
“I like seeing all the children enjoying it and then to see the big, long line of children waiting to talk to Santa Claus,” he said.
Stork moved to Noblesville in 1962, before Firestone Industrial Products sent him to Canada from 1966 to 1968. He and his family returned to the city in 1968 and have lived here ever since. Stork spent his entire 38-year career working at Firestone. He retired in 1992 after working in the laboratory, before becoming a chief chemist, technical director and manager. Since retirement, he has served as vice president, president and now treasurer of the local Firestone Alumni Association.
“You look there and wonder what happened. That plant and company took care of so many people,” he said. “The Firestone roofing business originated in building No. 2 out there.”
Stork has been a member of the Noblesville Board of Public Works and Safety for more than 30 years and has been re-appointed to the board by four different mayors through the years.
“I enjoy it. Hopefully it’s a help to the city and citizens. It needs to be done and if I have the opportunity to do it and can do it, I will,” Stork said.
“Larry’s service to the city as a member of the Board of Works has been invaluable,” said Mayor John Ditslear. “He diligently reviews contracts and agreements to make sure the city’s interests are protected. Larry’s name has been submitted for nomination from some of his friends and former coworkers, and I am pleased we are honoring him this year.”
Stork said he enjoys being on the board because it dabbles in a little bit of everything that goes on in Noblesville.
“There’s not many aspects of the city it doesn’t get into,” he said. “The (common) council appropriates the money, the board spends it.”
Stork also was elected to the Noblesville Common Council and served from 1980 to 1984. He ran to become more involved in the city.
“I wanted to find out a little more of what was going on,” Stork said, adding he was on the council when the city’s budget reached $1 million for the first time in 1982. “Now it’s somewhere around $77 million.”
Over the years Stork said the biggest change in Noblesville has been its growth.
“When we moved to where we are now there was a row of houses behind us on Lakeview Drive. You could see cornfields and deer. Now it’s all homes as far as you can see,” he said. “There’s expansion in all directions. The growth has been fantastic.”
As for the city’s future, Stork said a lot of that depends on the economy.
“I’m imagining continued growth,” he said.
Meet Larry Stork
Age: 77
Residence: Noblesville
Hometown: Indianapolis
Hobbies: Playing golf and gardening, reading in the winter because “there’s nothing to do outside.”
Family: wife, Sally; daughters, Cara (Aaron) Culp and Erica (Scott) Stemler; and grandchildren, Jillian and Evan.
Favorite Christmas movie: “A Christmas Story”
Holiday traditions: Get together with all of his family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. On Christmas Eve he has a number of his friends over for dinner.
Why he is involved in public service: “I really enjoy what I do. I make sure the city can get what it needs and help the employees as much as possible if I can be any help to them. They do a great job. The city has a wonderful organization of people.”
