Community businessman, volunteer Dave Theiss is parade grand marshal

With the theme “Saluting Our Milestones,” Dave Theiss is the perfect choice for Clear Lake’s Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal.

Theiss has been a fixture in the Clear Lake business community for 45 years and has lent his support and talents to schools, veterans programs, the Chamber and economic development efforts to name just a few.

“I love this community so much!  I do a good deal of volunteering, but I have always said Clear Lake has paid me back 10 fold,” explained Theiss.  “I was overwhelmed to be chosen as parade grand marshal.”

Theiss came to Clear Lake in 1968 when his father accepted the job as head football coach for Clear Lake High School.  While in college he spent summers working here and decided early on that he would eventually make Clear Lake his hometown.  After a brief stint in teaching at Twin Rivers, he came to Clear Lake and went into business on Main Avenue.

Theiss Shirts was first located at 312 Main., in the location formerly known as j avenue.  Later the silkscreen business and retail store was relocated to the south side of Main where Cabin Coffee is today.  Theiss Shirts remained a Main Avenue fixture until 1995 when Dave and his wife, Patty, built a new facility on 4th Avenue South.

In addition to serving the community through his business, Dave is a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as Economic Development Corporation.  He has also been an active member of Clear Lake V.F.W. Post 4868 and is currently working on

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compiling a book to highlight veterans whose names will appear on the Veterans Memorial, which will be dedicated at the V.F.W. later this year.

“Dave is a great ambassador for all things Clear Lake: the Surf Ballroom, CL Lions, local businesses, and our veterans,” said Alice Hanley, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce July 4th Committee which selected Theiss as the Grand Marshal.  “Dave supports the community in so many ways, without expecting (or wanting) recognition.  He just helps because it’s ‘the right thing to do.’”

Theiss said he considers his involvement with Honor Flights, which transported World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to see the monument they inspired, to be among the most rewarding.

“I helped with eight Honor Flight trips  and each one had so many stories to go with it.  World War II vets were, especially, a generation that went to war and the myth is that they came home to hugs and kisses.  Many did not.  Many never talked about the war, or what they had seen and experienced,” said Theiss.  “During the Honor Flights veterans were strongly encouraged to go home and talk to their family.  I heard many stories from family members that their fathers did just that, and how much it meant to the veteran and their loves ones.”

All of the fundraising for the Honor Flights Theiss helped to organize between 2008 and 2012 was done at a grassroots effort, he explained.  The average cost for each flight was $93,000.

Clear Lake schools, and its football program in particular, are also close to Theiss’ heart.  This fall will mark his 50th year volunteering in some capacity with the football teams.  For the past 28-years he has been broadcasting the play-by-play of Lion football games on KRIB Radio, currently sitting alongside Alpha Media’s Bob Fisher.

During this years’ Fourth of July celebration Theiss will be getting a new view of the parade.  After many years spent at the corner of Main and 8th Streets judging entries for the Chamber of Commerce, he will be waving at thousands from a car on the parade route.

And after six days of celebrating the holiday in Clear Lake style— including enjoying a family reunion of sorts with the Evans United Shows family and many friends and family who will come to enjoy the Fourth in Clear Lake, Dave said he will relax in his “50-yard-line seats” at his home for a spectacular fireworks show over the lake.

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