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Time is up on Courtney Dunlap’s term in office as president of the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee, but the job will remain in the family.
Brant Dunlap, her father, will take over the reigns. He was voted into presidency position by fellow SPTOR board members last week.
Courtney, who will remain on the board in a different capacity, was presented a plaque by her dad, who saluted her efforts in guiding the organization to a pair of award-winning years. The Mayor Award has gone to the City of South Pasadena for its 2019 entry “Three Little Birds” and for “Victory At Last” in 2020.
After some time away from being part of the city float, Brant Dunlap is glad to be back.
“Being president of an organization that is one of the oldest history of the city is an honor,” he said. “I first started around 1996 helping decorate until about 2009. I took a few years off while the kids were involved in club and travel sports then came back full speed in 2017 totaling roughly 16 years.”
His family is in its fourth generation being apart of the city float. “I want other families to start their tradition and carry it on for years to come like mine,” he said, noting that his biggest thrill in being around the float comes from watching those working on it, fulfilling, perhaps, a bucket list item.
“Meeting people and watching them smile when they are working on the float or just getting close to it,” he said when ask what he gets most out of being around the city’s entry. “What we do during Deco week (12-26 / 12-31) is another bucket list for many. Helping them achieve one of their dreams is very rewarding.”
Deco week is the frenzied moment when the heat is on, crunch time as volunteers call it, moving at a fast clip knowing the hours before the start of the event are quickly approaching.
Dunlap doesn’t hide the fact more volunteers are needed and those wishing to find out more about the organization are invited to SPTOR meetings the first Tuesday of every month in the council chambers starting at 7:30 p.m. at South Pasadena City Hall. “My main goal is to work on getting the community more involved with what we do,” he said. “You don’t have to be a welder or have knowledge of flowers and seed to be a contributor towards SPTOR. There are many things that make it all come together. I welcome anyone to reach out to me and discuss what they can do to help.”
The passing of Ted Shaw, a dedicated community member who was highly involved in the success of the city float over the years, “has taken the wind out of many of us,” noted Dunlap.
Shaw served as SPTOR president for two years from 2008-2009. In addition, he formed the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association back in 2001 and has served as its only president over the years.
“He will be dearly missed by all who knew him,” said Dunlap.
Shaw had a dream to construct a building that would serve as home to the City of South Pasadena’s Rose Parade Float and replace a giant tent that is erected each year for float construction behind the War Memorial Building in the 400 block of Fair Oaks Avenue.
“I would like to keep his vision alive by working with the community leaders and making his dream our reality,” Dunlap said.
Last week’s Tournament of Roses Committee meeting opened in a moment of silence in memory of Shaw.
In lieu of flowers, the Shaw family asks that donations be made to the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee, PO Box 3662, South Pasadena, CA 91031.
