Why would some of Pleasanton’s most distinguished members of the community march around in giant white sailor suits with inner tubes around their middles, toting mops and plungers? “Because it’s just plain fun!” say long-time Balloon Platooner, Ed Kinney.

Kinney, a real estate salesman and former Mayor of Pleasanton, was there when it all began. The Balloon Platoon was born over a session of "cookies and milk" he claims with a demonic grin. A good friend of KNBR’s Mike Cleary, Ed decided that he and his church group, the Mariner’s Ship-4, should do something to support disc jockey Cleary’s First Good Times Parade 10 years ago.

The theme of the parade was "Let the Good Times Roll," so Kinney and his buddies from the Presbyterian Church’s couples group decided to build a huge float. The float was a giant boat constructed of cardboard, which the group designed, built, and decorated entirely on their own.

The boat was named "Clyde" and its theme was "Let the Good Times Row." The following year, when it came time to support "Good Times II," Kinney says that, “We wanted to participate, but we didn’t want to go through building another float like that. So, we decided to do something not quite so complicated.”

Well, the simple solution, decided Farrel Pruett, a Nurse/Administrator at Agnew’s State Hospital and original platoon member, was the Balloon Platoon Marching Unit. They all decided that the wives would make the costumes, and their present Drill Commandant, Dick Howard, supplied all of the inner tubes.

The first and original Platooners to don the enormous uniforms, complete with innertubes, were Frank Gottschalk, Jim Gregory, Brad Hirst, Carl Holder, Dick Howard, Jim Kimball, Ed Kinney, Ray Kolski, Tony Migliachio, Bob Montgomery, Leonard Mark, Farrel Pruett, Bob Stewart, Keith Sweet, Steve Thomas, and Al Walburg, who currently serves as the group’s business manager.

The Platoon has seen several other members come and go. Kinney thinks a lot of the reason they all still do it is that, “A lot of us deal with negative people or negative attitudes all day long. It’s sort of like role reversal and it’s a great outlet!”

Kinney becomes sentimental as he asks, “Have you ever marched in a parade? Every face lining the streets is laughing or smiling. That’s why we do it - the feeling is really indescribable!”

The group has appeared in many parades and entertained at various gatherings and functions around town. “Our crowning achievement was winning the Sweepstakes Award (number one entry all-around) at the Walnut Festival Parade in Walnut Creek. Then, the next year we entered the drill team competition and we actually won first place over the Travis Air Force Base and the Treasure Island Naval Base Units with their shiny boots and helmets. It was a riot!”

“If you want to be a Platooner, you must go through rigorous physical, mental, and agility testing!” Kinney jokes. Former and current Platooners able to pass the tests are Warren Harding, Tim Hunt, Joe Francis, Dick Thomas, Ty, Jim, and Les Fields, Chuck and Kevin Maxson, Al Baer, Jerry Stunkel, Brian Samuels, Don Wadekamper, Ben Fernandez, Dave Muck, and Pat Dunn.

Membership in Ship-4 is no longer a requirement, says Kinney, as that group disbanded several years ago. “We’re usually made up of whoever’s available that day and wants to do it. That’s usually about 16 of us,” states Kinney.

“Anyone can be a Platooner. The most important thing to remember is that once you’re in that suit, you’re in it, if you know what I mean.” Then he laughs aloud as he remembers as Alameda County Fair parade years ago when a few of the boys indulged a little too much before the parade and then found out that they couldn’t fit into the little portable toilets set up at the parade site. “It was hilarious! Now, we save the "cookies and milk" until after the performances!”

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: November 5, 1984 Pathways.