Founder’s Day grand marshals named
By Kyle LoJacono
Staff Writer
ZEPHYRHILLS — It would have been nearly impossible to pick one grand marshal to represent all of Zephyrhills during the last 100 years, so Main Street Zephyrhills Inc. had to be creative.
Instead of the traditional one grand marshal at Founder’s Day this year, there will be 10 — one for each decade the city has been in existence.
“It fits into our theme for Founder’s Day, which is ‘Celebration of Generations,’” said Brenda Welcher, executive director for MSZI. “So many have been a part of making Zephyrhills what it is. It’s great to be able to recognize so many people for their contributions.”
One of the oldest families in the city are the Neukoms, who have had five generations born in Zephyrhills.
“Zephyrhills is my home and I think a lot of it,” George Neukom said. “I’ve been here all my life. Zephyrhills is a huge part of my life and what we are as a family.”
Neukom’s son, George Neukom III, owns Neukom Groves on Gall Boulevard. The family came to the area in 1910, before Zephyrhills was founded. At the time it was called Abbott Station, named after a doctor who lived in the area and two railroad stations in town. The family also owned a retail store, Neukom Drugstore, on Fifth Avenue from 1921 to 2001.
Another old-time family represented by a grand marshal is the Smiths, who have lived in the area since the 1860s.
“We’ve always tried to give back to the city,” said Brantley Smith. “Our family donated the land for the YMCA on Eiland Boulevard and we always try and support the school’s sports teams and youth leagues.”
Smith owns Silverado Golf and Country Club and his late brother, Stephen, was on the city council. His other brother, Buddy, will also represent the family.
“My brother and I were very honored to be asked to be marshals, but I think there are probably more deserving people out there,” Brantley said. “We have been here a long time and seen a lot of changes over the years.”
Nelson Ryman’s family has not been in Zephyrhills as long as the Neukoms or Smiths, but he has lived in the city since 1969.
“Zephyrhills is my hometown, even if I wasn’t born here,” Ryman said. “It’s a great community to live in with genuinely friendly people.”
Ryman owned H&R Interstate Mobile Homes and is active in the Rotary Club of Zephyrhills Daybreak.
“It is historic and I get to be a part of it,” Ryman said of being named a grand. “Not all cities are able to reach 100 years. It is great to see the city survive and continue to thrive.”
Neukom, Ryman and the Smiths will ride in the float of their corresponding decade at the parade March 13. The other grand marshals include: Nathan Geiger, former Zephyrhills baseball coach John Clements, Helen Winters, the 1962 Zephyrhills basketball team that one the Class B state championship, Sam Surratt, Irene Dobson; and Marcus and M.J. Price of Goin’ Postal.
Winters is the owner of Winters Mobile Home Park, the oldest such park in Zephyrhills. Her late husband, Gordon, bought the park in the 1950s.
Dobson is an equal rights activist in the city and has been involved in such projects as getting Sixth Avenue’s name changed to Martin Luther King Avenue.
Geiger was born and raised in Zephyrhills. His family owned a grain and feed store in the city. The store was sold several years ago.
Surratt was a member of the Zephyrhills City Council from 1953 to 1954 and again from 1957 to 1976.
Clements coached the Bulldogs for 21 seasons and was a minor league baseball player for a few years and brief was in Major League Baseball. The Zephyrhills baseball field was named after Clements in 1983.
The 1962 Bulldogs basketball team was the first Zephyrhills squad to win a state title. Two of the former players, Clyde Bracknell and Billy McGavern, will represent the team. Bracknell was also on the City Council 29 years — more years than anyone else in the city’s history.
Marcus and M.J. Price founded the shipping franchise Goin’ Postal in Zephyrhills in 2002, which now has more than 300 locations across the country. They were named because the city is changing form an agricultural city to one that has more businesses.
“It certainly is a great recognition to everyone selected,” Welcher said. “There were lots of great choices and in the end we could only have 10.”
Zephyrhills was founded March 10, 1910 and has come a long way from the little town with two train stations.
“A lot of my friends kid me that I’m turning 100 this year too, but I’m not quite there yet,” said the 72-year-old Neukom. “My family has seen this city go from Abbott Station to Zephyrhills, so we’ve seen it literally go from A to Z.”
Founder’s Day Parade grand marshals
Marshals Decades
- The Neukoms 1910s
- Brantley and Buddy Smith 1920s
- Nathan Geiger 1930s
- John Clements 1940s
- Helen Winters 1950s
- Zephyrhills basketball team 1960s
- Sam Surratt 1970s
- Nelson Ryman 1980s
- Irene Dobson 1990s
- M.J. and Marcus Price 2000s
