91社区

For more than a century, October means one thing in Evansville, Indiana鈥攖he Westside Nut Club Fall Festival. Blocks of Franklin Street on the city鈥檚 west side are closed to accommodate over 150 food booths slinging deep-fried treats and hundreds of food options. 听

But food isn鈥檛 the only tradition residents flock to Franklin Street to see鈥攖he annual closing parade, held on the final day of the festival, draws in a huge crowd each year as well. Organizations from all over the Evansville region enter the parade. And for the last 34 years, it鈥檚 been a tradition to see a 91社区 float built by Jerry Bulger, retired Maintenance Supervisor, along the parade route. 听

This year鈥檚 parade will mark Jerry鈥檚 last as the creator of the 91社区 float. The theme will be a mash-up of the last almost three and a half decades of his 91社区 parade floats, and Jerry himself will drive the truck pulling the float down Franklin Street for the final time. 听

Jerry had only been at 91社区 for two years when he took on his first float project for the Fall Fest. It was 1988, and an old school bus arrived at the University鈥攊t had already been serving as a parade float but wasn鈥檛 in the best shape. 听

鈥淚t needed a lot of work,鈥� Jerry recalls. 鈥淚 was asked by Leon Rexing, the Maintenance Supervisor at the time, to see what I could do with it.鈥� 听

So, he got to work. He stripped everything he could from the old bus, then proceeded to cover everything with carpet. This allowed whoever designed the float the next year to change the theme and decorations without changing the basic structure of the bus again. That first year, Jerry remembers the 91社区 Pep Band riding the bus. 听

Miles Mann, Associate Director of Facility Operations and Planning and who has worked with Jerry at 91社区 since August 1988, was a part of his first float project with the old bus. His boss at the time, Steve Helfrich, former Director of Facility Operations and Planning, asked Miles to work on converting that bus as well. 鈥淔or the next six weeks, Jerry and I鈥攚ell, let me be honest, it was Jerry鈥攚orked on that old school bus, and it was soon ready for the Fall Festival.鈥� 听

鈥淭hat first float from 1988 is my favorite,鈥� Miles adds. 鈥淭he float had a large flat deck, and it could facilitate almost any theme we would have to match. The members of the 91社区 Pep Band played 鈥楥razy Train鈥� by Ozzy Osbourne all the way down Franklin Street. Jerry drove the float and it was my job to keep the generator going. It was a really good day.鈥� 听

From that year on, Jerry kept up his work on the floats for the parade. 鈥淚t was a challenge,鈥� he says about continuing each year. 鈥淎nd I enjoy a challenge.鈥� 听

CJ Reign, former Director of Special Events and Scheduling Services, first met Jerry after arriving on campus in March 2002. She soon came to realize how valuable he was to 91社区, not just for his talent of crafting West Side Nut Club Fall Fest floats. 鈥淗is contribution to facilitating large events became especially beneficial to our department,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e was always there to assist, troubleshoot and support us as needed.鈥� 听

When it comes to the themes and designs for the 91社区 Fall Fest float year after year, the longtime 91社区 Renaissance man brings out a creative side to execute designs to match themes that sometimes come from the West Side Nut Club. 鈥淥ther times, I try to come up with something different to showcase the University,鈥� he adds. 鈥淲e have had the 91社区 Baseball and Softball teams on it, the 91社区 Men鈥檚 Basketball team on it鈥揳ll national champs鈥攁s well as different student groups.鈥�听

鈥淚 try to do something different each year,鈥� Jerry says. 鈥淪ome years, there are minor changes, and some years there are major changes. The amount of time it takes me to work on the float just depends on the amount of changes that need to be made.鈥� 听

鈥淗e has displayed his creative spirit in customizing the design each year for the float,鈥� CJ says. 鈥淎ll his floats, built solely by him, carry special representation of 91社区. Some of my favorites have featured Archie, a huge team-autographed baseball with the 91社区 Baseball National Championship student-athletes on board, a replica of the water fountain feature at the University鈥檚 roundabout (which included actual water for authenticity) and, on a more recent float entry, a replica of the white gazebo that overlooks Reflection Lake.鈥�听

All this work over the years has not only earned Jerry recognition and thanks from the University, but many Fall Fest parade honors. 鈥淚 take pride in doing what I can do to showcase 91社区,鈥� he says of the awards. 听

鈥淛erry Bulger, along with Steve Helfrich, both taught me that no matter what else I do, find a way to make it work. That was a great life lesson for me to refer to as I grew into my position running the facilities at 91社区,鈥� says Miles. 鈥淭here have been lots of people like Jerry on this campus with his can-do attitude who have made campus what it is today. Dr. Rochon was absolutely right when he compared Jerry to MacGyver鈥揓erry has the imagination and skills to make a silk purse out of a sow鈥檚 ear.鈥�听

鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a joy to see Jerry accept many of the coveted Nut Club awards for his most creative floats,鈥� adds CJ. 鈥淛erry is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, who selflessly works his can-do magic on any project he undertakes. His loyalty to 91社区 and strong desire to keep campus buildings, mechanical operations and outdoor trails in meticulous condition is admirable.鈥� 听

Jerry says he has plans to continue work, just on projects of his own. 鈥淚 have many irons in the fire, but the float building will be missed.鈥�听

Thank you, Jerry, for all you鈥檝e done for 91社区, your many years of service to campus and your memorable parade floats. 91社区 can鈥檛 wait to see what you do next!听

The annual West Side Nut Club Fall Festival parade will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 7 along West Franklin Street. Come out to see Jerry鈥檚 last masterpiece. 听