Rintoul named 2012 Parade Grand Marshal

Date: 5/29/2012

May 28, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — For a decade and a half, the East Longmeadow Fourth of July Parade Committee has selected an outstanding citizen to serve as the parade's grand marshal and this year's honor has been announced.

"It's hard to believe it's been 15 years that we have chosen a grand marshal for this parade," Parade Committee Chair Carl Ohlin said at the May 21 Annual Town Meeting. "It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2012 East Longmeadow Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal, for all he has done for the town of East Longmeadow, is Jim Rintoul."

Ohlin described Rintoul as a "behind the scenes worker for the town of East Longmeadow, just as all the other past grand marshals have been."

Rintoul was chosen, Ohlin explained, by a committee of past grand marshals.

"The selection is based on some of the following qualifications — if this person has participated in town activities, served on town committees, volunteered for various activities, been an active member of a civic group, service organization or youth group, through their business or religious affiliation has contributed to the quality of the town and just has been someone who has worked to make our town what it is today," he said.

After receiving a standing ovation from the residents present at the meeting, Rintoul took to the microphone and briefly gave thanks for the recognition.

"It has been my pleasure to live my entire life in East Longmeadow and to be a part of its community organizations," he said.

While a lifelong resident of East Longmeadow, Rintoul is a graduate of the former Springfield Technical High School and holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University.

After participating in the Naval ROTC program at Iowa State, he was commissioned as an ensign in 1964 and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant junior grade after participating in several programs, including the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

Rintoul is a member of the East Longmeadow Jaycees, a former president of the East Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce, a former 29-year member of the East Longmeadow Call Fire Department and past president of the East Longmeadow Fire Fighters Association.

He also served as president of the Board of Trustees for the United Methodist Church and the Rotary Club of East Longmeadow. With the Rotary Club, he posted perfect club attendance for 36 years, was a member of its memorial scholarship fund foundation and was given its Citizen of the Year award in 2011.

He is also currently the treasurer of the Billings Hill Cemetery Association and chairman of the Rotary Club's summer concert series concessions.