Community leaders

Rob and Mindy Weaver will ride at the head of the parade.

Then, they’ll immediately shift into one of the many community service roles that earned them their honorary spot.

The Weavers were selected this year to serve as grand marshals of the Jay County 4th of July Parade.

“I’m kind of excited about it,” said Mindy, taking a break from setting up the Lionburger stand at Jay County Fairgrounds for the holiday. (After they finish their grand marshal duties, both Weavers will step into the Lionburger stand to serve hungry visitors for the annual holiday celebration at the fairgrounds.) “Rob and I love this community and I’m glad that since I’ve retired I’ve been able to help out with some different organizations and volunteer … So I appreciate the recognition.”

“Any time you are named grand marshal of a parade, it’s quite an honor indeed,” Rob said. “We certainly didn’t expect it by any means. It’s nice to be recognized for being dedicated to your community … We’re excited to be in the parade as the grand marshals.”

Both have high-profile jobs in the community, Rob as owner, operator and on-air personality for WPGW radio and Mindy as a retired Jay County High School science teacher and former longtime cheerleading coach.

They’ve also been involved in a long list of local clubs, activities and fundraising efforts.

Rob spent six years as executive director of John Jay Center for Learning and has been on the boards of Jay County Visitors & Tourism Bureau, Arts Place, Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, Jay County Historical Society and United Way of Jay County. He spent about four decades as a fair board member and was one of the lead fundraisers for Portland Water Park.

Mindy has been a leader of fundraising efforts for the Arts Place renovation and expansion and is currently finishing up work to bring in funds for a new home for Jay County Humane Society. She also volunteers for the Lions Club, has been a member of Jay County Community Band and the Eastern Breeze flute ensemble and has helped with Church of the Brethren’s Vacation Bible School.

“There’s a lot of reasons,” said Jay County 4th of July Committee member Jim Waechter regarding the couple’s selection. “Rob has done a phenomenal job. … He’s been very community oriented. The radio is very much locally focused. …

“And quietly he’s been a force for philanthropy in town. He doesn’t broadcast it too much, but he sure supports a lot of things …

“He just seems to have the community in his headlights. He does a lot.

“And Mindy’s the same way. She’s been so involved through the school, the animal shelter. She’s worked with all these girls programs, from cheerleading to a lot of other things.

“Both of them together have really done a phenomenal job of being community oriented.”

The Weavers have plenty of parade experience. Mindy spent years riding in parades as coach of the Jay County High School cheerleaders while Rob is typically set up near the start of the route to announce the parade on the radio. (Jeff Overholser will step in this year to allow his boss to ride in the position of honor.)

And they have won a list of awards on their own. Rob was inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 2022 and has been a winner of the Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards through the Jay County Chamber of Commerce’s Jay County Community Awards. Mindy was recognized with the Cincinnatus League’s Lifetime of Service Award in 2021 and the Jack Cole Award for Volunteerism in 2018.

It’ll be nice, they agreed, to share the honor of being grand marshals together.

“We both obviously love the community,” said Rob. “That’s why we’ve been here all these years together. And we’re excited to see good things happen in Portland and Jay County.”

“That’ll be kind of fun,” Mindy said. “I’ll dress up in some red, white and blue and then come out here and work in the Lion’s stand.”