CITY COMMISSIONER SELECTED FOR STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL GRAND PARADE.
“Selecting the Grand Marshal for the Strawberry Grand Parade is always an exciting and thoughtful process,” Gail Domedian said. “Kyle Robinson, Florida Strawberry Festival President, and I, as President of BerryFine Productions, Inc., work together to establish criteria that reflect the values and spirit of our community. We consider factors such as community service, leadership, contributions to local culture, and overall impact on Plant City and the Florida Strawberry Festival. This year, the decision was remarkably easy. When we discussed who has had a significant positive impact on the community and truly embodies the spirit of the parade, Mike’s name immediately came to mind. His dedication, contributions, and leadership made him the clear choice for Grand Marshal of the 2025 Strawberry Grand Parade.”
Growing up, Mike Sparkman saw serving the community first hand—his father worked as a police officer in Plant City. He retired as a sergeant—which at that time was the second-in-command. While a high school, Sparkman also learned how to make money. As a junior and senior he held down four part-time jobs at the same time. He and his brother, a college junior, owned and operated a Pure Oil gas station in downtown. The pair added to that enterprise by going into a home heating business. They built a 450-gallon transport truck they used to deliver kerosene to local homes and businesses. In terms of serving the community, Sparkman had a role as a volunteer fireman—on duty from midnight to 7:00 a.m. at the fire station that used to be in downtown. Finally, he worked for the Haynes Funeral Home. For this job he took an ambulance out on emergency calls. Many times, Sparkman would walk two blocks from his gas station, put on his jacket that said “Haynes” on it, and the ambulance would stop and pick him up. In some instances, he took the ambulance by himself—again—all while he was still in high school. After this early service to the community, Sparkman served the nation in the U.S. Army Reserve, and the National Guard.
Sparkman went on to build his most successful business—Sparky’s Oil Company, Inc. At its peak, Sparky’s had more than 50 locations and employed 450 people—including those in his headquarters in Plant City. In 1988, Sparkman sold out to Texaco. The oil giant kept all the employees on the payroll except Sparkman. So, he went on to build again—two more gas station chains—including one with 20 embedded Subway franchises—all of which he also eventually sold.
In the meantime, Sparkman continued his service to Plant City—first as vice president of the Little League during the time his three children were playing. He also took part in the Rotary Club, an organization that serves the community. Following that, in 1993 residents voted Sparkman in as a City Commissioner. He has served 10-three year terms, including seven one-year-terms as mayor.
When the Plant City Police Department needed to expand, Sparkman began eyeing a building that had been an Auto Nation distribution center. The land and facility originally cost $20 million. Since Auto Nation had filed for bankruptcy, Sparkman thought the parcel could be bought for a steal at $7 million—and initiated pursuing the property for the city. After the purchase (for $6,995,000) and renovation, mayor-at-the-time, Rick Lott and former mayor, John Dicks, named the facility the Michael S. Sparkman Police Center.
“I’m a businessman,” Sparkman commented. “I don’t have a college education. All I have is a God-given gift, and I use that. I was very successful in my business career—tremendously successful, and I put that to work. We made Plant City more like a business than a government. We are very sound financially—very conservative—yet we provide for our people.”
Sparkman’s contributions of time, talent, and treasure to Plant City continued to add up. He took on the role of chairman of building the Nettie Berry Draughon Municipal Building (AKA City Hall). He acquired $3 million in funding to bring the YMCA to Plant City and served as its chairman. Sparkman garnered a $50,000 donation from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen to build the Plant City train viewing platform.
“I want to give back,” Sparkman said. “Plant City is a good place—a good place to live—a good place to raise a family. Of course, family is very important. We have a very close-knit family.” Sparkman and his wife, Diane, have been married for 60 years and have three children and eight grandchildren—all of them live in Plant City. “Our grandkids are the seventh generation in Plant City,” Sparkman commented.
Sparkman also made an impact beyond the boundaries of Plant City. Florida governor Lawton Chiles appointed him to the Hillsborough County Community College Board of Trustees in 1991. He helped HCC for six years, part of that time as chairman of the board. Sparkman served on the BayCare Board of Trustees. Also, of note, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Famer, LeRoy Selmon, and businessman Frank Morsani, showed up at Sparkman’s office door to obtain a sizeable donation to help underwrite starting the University of South Florida Bulls football team.
In terms of the Strawberry Festival, Sparkman made his mark there too. While president of the Strawberry Festival, he instituted building the impressive stone and steel Gate 1, the current office building, and the Grimes Family Agricultural Center. Sparkman also brought festival operations into the modern world by instituting electronic ticketing, and a web site.
When Sparkman found out he had been nominated to be Grand Marshal, “I was taken aback,” he said. “I have been on the parade committee for eons—I have been a director for the Florida Strawberry Festival for 40 years. I was quite shocked that Gail recommended it to Kyle for me to be the parade Grand Marshal. I accepted. I was ecstatic. I appreciate the recognition.”
