The March 13 St. Patrick's Day parade was one of the biggest in New Haven's history, says Tom Slater, who oversees the marching units for the annual event.

Yale's Slater keeps St. Patrick's Day parade moving smoothly

When Tom Slater took on the job of overseeing the marching units that participate in the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade, he never imagined he'd still be at it 20 years later. Slater, who is manager of project accounting in Yale's Facilities Department, celebrated his second decade in that role on March 12 when he guided a total of 3,800 marchers in 155 units during this year's parade. Putting together a parade takes a great deal of organization, notes Slater. Several weeks before the parade date, he sends a complete set of staging and marching instructions to all the organizations that have indicated they will participate. During a typical parade morning, Slater arrives a few hours before the parade is due to begin and takes attendance, checking to see whether any groups decided not to march. He then arranges the marching units according to his written plan. The parade route takes marchers from the northern-most end of Chapel Street to Church Street, where it passes by the reviewing stand in front of New Haven City Hall, then to Grove Street, where the groups disband. The parade is broken into several divisions, with each organization assigned to a division and staged on a side street, explains Slater. Where these units are held on the side street determines when they will enter the main body of the parade and march down Chapel Street. Slater remains at the start of the parade, cueing each group to enter the main column, until the last unit leaves its staging area, then joins in marching. New Haven's annual celebration dates back to 1842, when the city hosted a St. Patrick's Day procession, a precursor to today's parade. The processions continued through the end of the 1880s. A more formally organized parade began in 1920, ran for three more years, and didn't run again until 1956. This March marked the parade's 44th consecutive year. For a while this year, it looked as though there wouldn't be any parade, recalls Slater. The morning of March 12 began with torrential downpours that threatened to cancel the event. Slater and the parade committee were attending 10 a.m. mass at St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue when they noticed a few rays of sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows. "Our prayers were answered," says Slater. "When the sun came out, we knew we would have a great parade." Slater recalls many great years with numerous dignitaries marching in the parade. This year's Grand Marshal was Thomas Gallagher, a West Haven police commissioner, who was accompanied at the head of the parade by an Irish wolfhound. He also noted that this year's event was the biggest in modern times and included an eight-horse team of the Hallamore Clydesdales from Holbrooke, Massachusetts, nine bagpipe bands and seven high school marching bands. "The most rewarding thing about working for the parade is the fact that it went off well with no hitches and brought a joyous and happy mood to the many people who turned out to watch," adds Slater. The University also played a role in the annual celebration when it hosted the St. Patrick's Day dinner in Yale Commons earlier this month. -- By Thomas R. Violante T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Yale study shows cocaine vaccine is safe, effective Film echoes voices from Yale's Holocaust archive Student scholars win prestigious honors USA Today names Rodberg to College Academic Team Marshall awarded annual Paul Mellon Fellowship Psychiatrist shares her stories with children throughout the world Endowed Professorships Professors and former trustee are honored by Phi Beta Kappa 'High priest' of political writers is next Poynter Fellow Graduating actors to perform in 'Richard III' Storytellers to spin yarns from around the world at festival Better pest controls may result from researchers' discovery Noted businessman talks about the world of wine Changed procedures would make for a more effective international court, judge contends MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS Researchers will test new ways to curb transmission of HIV Study pinpoints dizziness as 'geriatric syndrome Procedure helps quiet auditory hallucinations Team shows protein's potential for treating mental disorders Former Yale treasurer and attorney John E. Ecklund dies Yale's Slater keeps St. Patrick's Day parade moving smoothly Exhibit features artist's series of biblical images Conference to explore 'Rebuilding Societies in Transition' Scholar describes Canada's difficult 'balancing act' Colloquium will aid those who are interested in establishing language-study centers Yale SOM event will focus on strategies for the 'new economy' Memorial service is scheduled for noted geologist Karl Waage Renewable energy is topic of conference Campus Notes Yale Scoreboard In the News Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus| Calendar of Events|Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page