City Councilmembers at the Jan. 17 meeting honored volunteers who built, decorated and financed the South Pasadena’s float that rode in the Jan. 1 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.
Officials commended the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses, a city committee. The recognition centered around the award-winning 2024 float that donned the theme, “Boogie Fever,” as well as for previous honors.
This year’s entry won the prestigious Founder Award — judged to be the most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization.
“The committee is being recognized this evening for five consecutive award-winning floats,” said Sheila Pautsch, the city’s community services director, said.
“This is an all-volunteer committee, dedicating their time by fundraising, planning, designing, building, decorating, and driving the float down Colorado Boulevard.”
Pautsch also listed the group’s awards from 2019 to the present and the float names for each year.
On behalf of the mayor and City Council, Pautsch presented a Certificate of Recognition to Ed Donnelly, SPTOR committee chair.
“Thank you to this amazing team of dedicated crazy float builders from South Pasadena,” said Donnelly.
The city also recognized the Sylvers, a Los Angeles-based R&B, soul and disco family musical group who regularly performed in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of the original band members were in attendance.
The float was named “Boogie Fever” for the Sylvers’ hit tune of the same title released in the mid-1970s. “Boogie Fever” played on a continuous loop throughout the parade. The title aptly reflected the parade’s theme, “Celebrating a World of Music: the Universal Language.”
Pautsch presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Sylvers for allowing the city to use the “Boogie Fever” song at no cost.
“Your artistic contributions added a harmonious and captivating element to our float, enriching the experience for everyone,” Pautsch read from the certificate.
Family members Angelia Sylvers, Charmaine Sylvers, Foster Sylvers, Leon Sylvers III, Sy Sylvers and Nikki Fisk accepted the certificate.
SPTOR has not completed deconstructing this year’s float. Volunteers, however, are already planning for next year’s entry.
The deadline for proposed designs was Jan. 26, and a subcommittee will soon be reviewing submitted concept drawings.
First published in the January 26 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
