GRAND SERVICE: Dodds to serve as Fourth of July Parade grand marshals

For providing more than 50 years of trash hauling and recycling services to Newton, dedicating countless hours of volunteer work and committing themselves to making the city a better place, Dave and Liz Dodd have been chosen as this year’s grand marshals of the Fourth of July Parade.

In addition to being involved in many community groups, those who nominated Dave and Liz said they are “the first one’s in line to help friends and family and even people they don’t know” and “would give you the clothes off their backs in you needed them.” The couple was also commended for their hard work.

Dave says part of that is attributed to his dad, Lloyd, who founded the eponymous trash hauling and recycling company in 1966-1967. Back then it was known as Dodd & Sons. The private trash collection business served customers in and around Newton, and continues to do so to this day.

“It all started in an old ’65 pickup truck,” Dave said. “(My dad) just started going around and throw people’s trash on. Then we got a few stops and he built side boards on the truck, so we’d get to haul more stuff. It took off from there. I was working full-time when I was 16 in high school.”

Liz added, “That’s been a couple years ago.”

Dodd’s Trash Hauling and Recycling, Inc. has operated in an old school way since the very beginning, but it also latched on to growing industry trends like recycling. Ever since the 1990s, Dodd’s has implemented a recycling program. Those who nominated Dave and Liz praised them for that work in particular.

“I could see (the industry) was going to go that direction, so I knew if we didn’t jump onboard we were going to get run over by the big companies,” Dave said.

In addition to the Dodds’ business operations, those who nominated the couple complimented their volunteer work with RAGBRAI, Bowlful of Blues concerts, Meals on Wheels, Red Pride Service Days and the Fourth of July Parade, among others. They also support and donate to the Newton school district’s athletics.

To be chosen as this year’s parade grand marshals is “humbling” for the Dodds, who have regularly worked and attended the annual event every year — they even have a usual spot they like to reserve. It’s a community tradition, Liz said, and it’s also a time for them to see folks they don’t normally get to see as often.

“It’s a great tradition,” Liz said. “We’re lucky to even have a parade. A lot of towns don’t do that anymore, you know … We’re looking forward to seeing everybody.”

Dave added, “That and being able to have people get out and come to it and that we didn’t have to wait another year for it.”

The Greater Area Newton Chamber of Commerce will hold its parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 3 in downtown Newton.

This year’s parade theme is “Party in the USA.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com