Frank Carroll Salutes Mr. Barnum

From The Barnum Festival:

Frank J. Carroll, International Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and a Bridgeport native, was selected today by the Board of Directors of the Barnum Festival as the 2012 Ringmaster of the annual celebration.

Carroll, of Shelton, was selected as the 63rd Ringmaster of the organization which was created in 1948 to commemorate the life and times of P.T. Barnum, world famous entrepreneur and former mayor of Bridgeport. He follows a long list of regional and community leaders to hold the position.

The new Ringmaster is no stranger to the Barnum Festival having volunteered in a number of the events over the years, serving in a variety of roles. He is the son of the late Frank and Irene Carroll and brother of former Ringmasters William J. Carroll and Charles Carroll. He succeeds Armando Goncalves, regional president of People’s United Bank, who served as the 62nd Ringmaster and was a member of the nominating committee headed by former Ringmaster Robert H. Laska, retired publisher of the Connecticut Post.

Goncalves said that Carroll was an “easy choice” for the committee because of his long history of community involvement and support of Bridgeport institutions and organizations. He noted that Carroll was the Grand Marshal of the tremendously successful 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade and activities.

“Frank’s heart and soul is committed to the betterment of Bridgeport and the region,” according the Barnum Festival Society President Rick Porto, who added that the former ringmasters, staff and volunteers are “looking forward to working with Frank.”

The Festival has become well known throughout the Northeast through the more than 20 annual events which salute Barnum and the people and events that made him the “Greatest showman on earth.” Those events include the annual Street Parade, drum and bugle corps competition, concerts and fireworks extravaganza at Bridgeport’s Seaside Park.