The Grand Marshal of the Centralia Halloween Parade will be Paralympic rugby player Chuck Melton of the Hoyleton area.
Melton broke his neck in a 2002 diving accident. After several years in a state of depression, he became involved in wheelchair rugby and eventually made the Paralympic team three times.
Parade Chair Butch Mathus says the parade committee wanted to honor Melton for his accomplishments.
“He didn’t sit down and cry about things, he pulled up his bootstraps and moved forward,” Mathus said. “That’s why we want to commend that special person and what he has done. We want to show our deepest appreciation to him as a community and as the parade committee and let him know we’re behind him 100 percent.”
Melton was at the Centralia Halloween Parade Committee Thursday night to accept the honor.
“It’s a huge honor, Melton said. “I’ve never really experienced anything like this before. This community has been a huge part of my life since my accident. With all the trips that I’ve been on to the different Paralympics over the years, between the fundraisers we’ve done and stuff like that, this community has always backed me a hundred percent. It’s awesome for me to be able to give back just a bit, and I really appreciate it.”
Melton says the first years after his accident were difficult.
“I spent several years in a very depressive state, and then once I found an outlet in wheelchair rugby, I let that become my fuel and my passion. It really developed from there. Then I got into fitness, and that’s when Mike and Tara hired me at the Body Shoppe. It just kind of excelled from there.”
Melton says by the time his wife gave him an ultimatum to get off the couch he weighed 330 pounds. He talked about his first practice with the St. Louis rugby team.
“They literally had to duct tape me into the chair. I couldn’t even fit into the wheelchair, I was so big at the time. I took one hit, they flipped me over and I hit the floor, and I fell in love with the game right then.”
Melton says he may not be done yet. After taking some time off following the last Paralympics, he might start working towards a fourth appearance at the Los Angeles event, which is still two years away.
