Published: June 26, 2009 02:27 pm      

Brownsburg Lions prepare for ‘Extravaganza’

The Brownsburg Lions Club will once again host its annual Extravaganza and Fourth of July parade.

The Extravaganza begins at 5 p.m. June 30 in Arbuckle Acres park. There will be carnival rides, including a tilt-a-whirl, a corn tent sponsored by the Lions Club, sandwiches, soft drinks, prizes, and give-aways.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4 on Odell Street. It will follow north on Odell, left on College Street to State Road 267, and north of Franklin Street.

Brownsburg Lion Raymond Furner said the parade will include honor guards from various police departments, bagpipers, floats, tractors, vintage cars, and more.

The extravaganza culminates with Fourth of July fireworks at Arbuckle Acres.

There is no admission fee to the extravaganza or the parade, but only cash will be accepted at the food and snack booths.

The Lions Club each year also chooses a grand marshall for the parade. This year, Dickie Hartley has been chosen as the marshall.

Hartley was recently chosen as co-recipient of the Lion of the Year award with Nick Xinopoulos.

Aside from being a Lion, Hartley is also a Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite, the Shrine Club, and has been a member of the American Legion for 22 years.

He served in the U.S. Army in June of 1966 and was assigned to the 196th Light Infantry Unit as a medic. He married Rebecca Mayes and together they have six daughters, two sons, 17 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Hartley became a Lion in 1994, received the Cecil Sharp award for being an outstanding new member in 1996, and was elected president in ‘98. He received a Melvin Jones Fellowship, one of the highest awards in Lionism, in 2002 and has been named Lion of the Year three times.

Hartley said being named grand marshall of the Lions parade is thrilling for him.

“(It is) one of the greatest honors of my life,” he said.

For more information on the Lions Club or the extravaganza and parade, visit the website at www.brownsburglionsclub.org.