In Dallas, despite facing the multiple difficulties that have been affecting many cities and states of the Union for years at a social and political level, the Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival will take place on October 13th. The Texas Park horses and the Skyline school band will parade following the civil and military authorities. Furthermore, the renowned orchestra Emerald City Band and Pino Marelli will perform. There will be an exhibition of Italian sports cars and the presence of Italian restaurateurs and products.
This event represents continuity in the direction of travel to promote our history, traditions, culture and Italian heritage. We must safeguard Columbus Day, demonstrating to the entire community that sharing convivial, cultural and social moments is an example of openness, inclusion and mutual respect with other ethnic groups, as stated by the Council. of CGIE Vincenzo Arcobelli among the main promoters of Columbus Day in Texas and America.
The Columbus Day and Italian Festival Committee in Dallas has selected Oscar Renda as Grand Marshal 2024.
“Oscar Renda deserves this significant recognition, for the great contribution given to the world of construction and to the community” declares Vincenzo Arcobelli, Chairman of the Event. “We are proud that Oscar Renda is the Grand Marshal in the 2024 edition, among the prominent personalities of the Italian-American community”, declares Jay Lombardo Master of Ceremonies and member of the Organizing Committee.
The Italian American Oscar Renda originally from Calabria
Oscar Renda is a successful entrepreneur proud of his origins who lives in Dallas, Texas. Arriving in the United States in 1956 from Calabria at the age of 8, he worked in menial jobs as a teenager, from car valet to dishwasher, while learning the carpenter’s trade. While also trying to get ahead in his studies, at 14 he was working in the construction industry, and at 17 he was leading a team of pipe fitters. Despite negative comments from school administrators, he used their doubts as motivation. But, a high school teacher saw his potential, inspiring him to pursue college. In 1967 he arrived in Texas with a small baggage and hitchhiking. He was accepted onto the North Texas wrestling team, which allowed him to self-fund his further education, graduating with a degree in Physical Education and a minor in American and Texas History in 1971.
But in the summer of 1971, he found a job as a plumbing crew leader for DalStrom Construction Company, which had won the contract to build the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. In August of that year, he was offered a job at Northwest High School to teach American History and coach the football team. After not getting the head coaching position in his second year, he resigned. He took out a $13,000 loan, bought a John Deere excavator and founded Oscar Renda Contracting in 1973. His brother Rudy, an accountant at Price Waterhouse, left his job and joined him in 1974.
They started with earthmoving work, then moved on to large-scale projects in major cities in Texas, 37 states and Canada. They became the largest contractor in the United States, expanding into infrastructure, wastewater treatment, highways, tunnels, and dredging. Notable projects include the San Francisco Tunnel, the Lake Mead Entrance Structure, and the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. They also manage biosolids for millions of people in the DFW area and 22 other cities. Their best business was banking, owning three banks. In 2013, they turned the construction business over to their sons, who took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange last year.
Today, he still runs the Environmental Company and a restaurant, Calabrese, as a retired hobby.
In Dallas, despite the many social and political difficulties that have affected many cities and states of the Union for years, the Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival will take place on 13 October. Civil and military authorities, the Texas Park horses, and the Skyline School Band will parade in tow. Also performing will be the renowned Emerald City Band, and Pino Marelli. There will be an exhibition of Italian sports cars and the presence of restaurateurs and Italian products.
This event represents a continuation in the direction of promoting our history, traditions, culture, and Italian heritage. We must safeguard Columbus Day, demonstrating to the entire community that sharing convivial, cultural, and social moments is an example of openness, inclusion, and in mutual respect with other ethnic groups, says CGIE Cons. Vincenzo Arcobelli, one of the main promoters in Texas and in America of Columbus Day.
The Columbus Day and Italian Festival Committee in Dallas has selected Oscar Renda Grand Marshal 2024.
‘Oscar Renda deserves this significant recognition for his great contribution to the construction world and the community,’ said Vincenzo Arcobelli, Chairman of the Festival. ‘We are proud that Oscar Renda in the 2024 edition is the Grand Marshal, among the prominent personalities of the Italian-American community,’ says Jay Lombardo Master of Ceremonies and member of the Organising Committee.
The Italo-American Oscar Renda Originally from Calabria
Oscar Renda, is a successful entrepreneur proud of his roots who resides in Dallas, Texas. He came to the United States in 1956 from Calabria, Italy, at the age of 8. As a teenager, he worked menial jobs, from parking cars to washing dishes, while learning the carpentry trade. While also trying to get by in his studies, he worked in construction at the age of 14, and led a team of pipe fitters at 17. Despite negative comments from school administrators, he used their doubts as motivation. But, a high school teacher saw his potential and inspired him to continue his studies at university. In 1967, with a small luggage and hitchhiking, he arrived in Texas. He was accepted into the North Texas wrestling team, which enabled him to self-finance his further studies, graduating with a degree in Physical Education and a major in American and Texas History in 1971.
But in the summer of 1971, he got a job as a pipefitter foreman for the DalStrom Construction Company, which had won the contract to build the Dallas/ Fort Worth IN Texas International Airport. In August of that year, he was offered a job at Northwest High School to teach American History and coach the football team. After failing to get the head coaching position in his second year, he resigned. He took out a $13,000 loan, bought a John Deere excavator and founded Oscar Renda Contracting in 1973. His brother Rudy, an accountant at Price Waterhouse, quit his job and joined him in 1974.
They started with earthmoving work and then went on to major works in major cities in Texas, 37 states and Canada. They became the largest contractor in the United States, expanding into infrastructure, wastewater treatment, highways, tunnelling and dredging. Major projects include the San Francisco tunnel, the Lake Mead inlet structure and the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. They also manage biosolids for millions of people in the DFW area and 22 other cities. Their best business has been banking, owning three banks. In 2013, they sold the construction business to their sons, who listed the company on the New York Stock Exchange last year.
Today, they still run the Environmental Company and a restaurant, Calabrese, as a retirement hobby.
