Forty-seven years ago, Russ Shelton watched as ground was broken for Crittenton Hospital in Rochester. His father was on the ho
spital board; his mother was a volunteer.
Now, he and his wife Kathy have assumed those same roles. Thanks to their generosity, the family name is on the hospital’s heart center.
“We’re just kind of carrying on a tradition,” he said. “I love this community.”
For all the things the couple does for the community–volunteering, serving in leadership positions and philanthropy–the Sheltons are this year’s grand marshals for the 60th Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Unless it rains, look for them Sunday in a red, 1965 GTO convertible. They will also be honored at the annual grand marshal reception at Great Oaks Country Club Dec. 1.
“To me it’s a great honor,” Shelton said. “We’re both excited about it.”
Shelton’s father Bud founded a car dealership in 1958; Russ Shelton is president and CEO of what is known today as Shelton Buick GMC. The dealership is currently undergoing its fourth expansion, despite the tough economy.
Shelton served as chairman of the 2000 North American International Auto Show. The Sheltons are benefactors of many local causes and are most proud of the Shelton Heart Center, a state-of-the-art facility that provides a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient cardiology services. Kathy Shelton is a founding member of the Rochester Women’s Fund, active in the Crittenton Circle of Caring, Rainbow Connection and Christmas Time Adopt a Family. The couple established the Shelton Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester to provide a lasting legacy for their hometown.
“Russ and Kathy Shelton are a blessing in our community,” said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett. “They support so many charities and organizations and consistently give back to those in need. They are truly proud to call the Rochester area home and are huge cheerleaders for new businesses and anyone who invests in the town they love. They are wonderful examples of what good citizenship really looks like.”
The Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade started small, Russ Shelton said. In fact he ran it for a time in the 1980s, when it was sponsored by the Jaycees. Now sponsored by the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, it has become the largest Christmas parade in Michigan and is televised live on WXYZ-TV Channel 7.
“This is a great production,” Russ Shelton said. “It really brings Rochester to light.”
The parade begins at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads and heads south along Main Street to Third Street in downtown Rochester.
