75th Anniversary Float

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As part of the Institution's 75^th anniversary celebration for 2005, WHOI entered a float in the Falmouth holiday parade for the first time in many years. The float was organized by a subcommittee of the 75^th Anniversary Steering Committee and other volunteers (Suzanne Bolton, Karen Bice, Rick Chandler, Hovey Clifford, Vicky Cullen, Valerie Douglas, Dennis Fox, Fritz Heide, and Scott Worrilow). It was funded by a gift from long-time WHOI vendor Corp Brothers of Hyannis and Institution funds allotted for the anniversary celebration.

A 48-foot flatbed was loaned for the occasion by Falmouth Ready-Mix, and it was magically converted to a representation of WHOI's first ship Atlantis by members of the carpenter shop (with principal credit to Damon Gayer, Craig Henderson, Bruce Lancaster, and Bob Sanker), the mechanical shop (Geoff Ekblaw), and graphic services (Paul Oberlander).

Several men who had worked aboard Atlantis agreed to be float riders (Nat Corwin, Dana Densmore, Conrad Neumann, Paul Ferris Smith, Jim Sousa, Ralph Vaccaro, John Valois, and Bruce Warren) along with current employees Cyndy Chandler, Vicky Cullen, Ann Devenish (and her husband Doug Cassell), Dave DuBois, Penny Foster , George Tupper , and Scott Worrilow (and his wife Katie Propper). Paula Cloninger (and her husband Doug Keith) dressed in Victorian costumes to follow the “Victorian Christmas” theme of the parade as they carried the banner in front of the float, and Doug Handy (with Valerie Douglas riding shotgun) piloted the truck.

Photo above: Paul Oberlander (Graphics) applies banners to the side of the float while Craig Henderson (Carp) and Valerie Douglas (Fac) work on the upper level. (Photo by Tom Kleindinst)