Grand marshals named for Rodeo Parade

A longtime “tireless” volunteer for the Santa Maria Elks and a spunky boy battling cancer will ride in places of honor during the June 2 Elks Rodeo Parade.

Vic Diamond, 74, was named grand marshal, while Grant Lima, 7, will serve as junior grand marshal, officials announced during Saturday night's Rodeo Kickoff and Auction at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge.

In conjunction with the kickoff, Mayor Larry Lavagnino issued a proclamation declaring May 14 to June 3 as “go western days,” and urging everyone to “enter into the rodeo spirit” by donning western attire.

The 64th annual rodeo, which raises funds for youth recreation, runs from May 31 to June 3.

“Vic Diamond has been very instrumental in getting us as far with the rodeo as where we are today. He worked many many years tirelessly,” said Keith Barks, Elks Recreation president. “It's just a small action to honor him in what he has put out for us for many years.”

Diamond said he was shocked when he got the call.

“I haven't done anything for the last few years,” he said. “I figured I was retired and forgotten. I had no idea. I had not an inkling.

“It's just quite an honor. ... There's a lot of people just as deserving as I am.”

Diamond attended Main Street School, then El Camino Jr. High and Santa Maria High. He later served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He became a member of the local Elks Lodge in 1963.

He and his relatives opened Diamond's Auto Supply in Guadalupe in 1957. The family business grew, and in 1963 they opened a parts store on West Main Street in Santa Maria.

In the 1950s and the 1960s, Diamond was involved in “hot rodding,” and was active at the dragstrip located on airport-owned property near Foster Road. With cars built by Diamond and his friends, his Chevrolet-powered dragster rail was undefeated in its class from 1959 to 1963.

Later, Diamond switched rides and became a team roper.

In the 1970s, Diamond was one of 30 men making up “Butch's Crew,” whose members worked for many weeks prepping the arena for the rodeo. Diamond also worked the roping chutes for 34 years at the rodeo.

He said that he participated in the community event as payback for his customers' supporting his business through the years.

“What goes around comes around,” he said.

He and his wife RoseMary have been married since 1954. They have a son, Randal, and a daughter, Cheryl; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Diamond and his wife sold their share of the parts store in 1989 and retired to a small ranch east of Santa Maria. They enjoying spending time on a boat in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, and are members of the Oak Park Christian Church in Grover Beach.

The junior grand marshal, Grant, represents the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.

Barks said the rodeo is honoring all youth members of the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation for being survivors - “not just cancer survivors. They're tough.”

Grant was diagnosed with stage-three neuroblastoma, a solid cancerous tumor in his back and abdomen, in 2002. Since then, the boy has undergone numerous surgeries, chemotherapy and experimental drugs to treat the tumor.

“Today, he is an active first-grader at May Grisham Elementary in Orcutt and claims spinach salad as his favorite food,” officials said.

Both of Grant's grandfathers have been members of the Elks for more than 40 years, and his father, Gil Lima, belongs to the local lodge. Grant's mother, Kristin, is a high school administrator at Lompoc High School.

Doctors continue to monitor the tumor, which is in a very delicate spot on his spinal cord, according to his mom, Kristin.

“The tumor is still in his back, but it is growing at a reduced rate every time we look at it, so that's good news,” Kristin said, adding that the tumor doesn't affect him physically, mentally or emotionally.

The timing of Saturday night's rodeo kickoff and announcement of Grant's role in the parade is especially poignant for the family - it was Mother's Day weekend five years ago when his parents spotted the boy's extreme pain while trying to climb stairs at a park. He was hospitalized and ultimately they learned of the diagnosis.

Grant is honored to be chosen as junior grand marshal, his mom said.

“I think it's cool, very cool,” Grant added.

The boy is already a fan of rodeo - “because I like Western kind of things.”

In fact, while getting pictures taken as he wore Western duds, he declined to smile for some shots, explaining his pouting mouth as, “That's what cowboys do,” his mom said.

Janene Scully can be reached at 739-2214 or janscully@santa

mariatimes.com

May 13, 2007