Cincinnati has no Chiquita Banana Bowl, Kroger Tidy Bowl or Procter & Gamble Pepto Bismol Bowl for New Year's Day. But there's no reason we can't have our own Parade of Roses for local heroes.

Here's my list:

Former Federal Judge Nate Jones was the lonely only person of stature in the black community who stood up to the boycott thugs and threatened to resign from a community agency rather than submit to bullying.

Mayor Charlie Luken has handled a thankless job with class. OK, so he lost his temper once or twice. Who wouldn't? He gets his daily adult requirement of raw criticism and abuse, but he mostly does the right thing regardless of the pressure.

The Rev. Jerry Kirk has led a national crusade against pornography, as a fearless thorn in the side of the porn pushers who peddle the lie that porn is harmless.

Federal Judge Danny Boggs of the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals exposed the way liberal judges rigged the rules to win a narrow 5-4 decision in favor of affirmative action that is now being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. "Under these circumstances, it is impossible to say what the result would have been had this case been handled in accordance with our long-established rules," he wrote.

Anthony Munoz and Billy Graham teamed up to bring Cincinnati down to the river for an inspiring revival of faith and unity.

Carl Lindner Jr. has quietly made very generous gifts to many deserving local charities, while patiently trying to explain to sports fans that the Reds are not one of them.

Police Chief Tom Streicher spent another year in the pressure cooker, but came out looking dry cleaned. He has been scorched by politicians and protesters, but he has not backed down in his support of good cops and his efforts to fire bad ones.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen has also taken his fair share of abuse. But he was one of the very few local leaders who stood up for local cops when they were getting trashed. His reputation for being tough but fair was confirmed again by his dogged prosecution of sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, although Mr. Allen is a Catholic.

Tom Jones has fearlessly walked the most dangerous streets in Avondale, fighting to clean up crime on behalf of the many families, black and white, who want safe neighborhoods.

Sen. Dick Finan has served the Cincinnati area for decades with class and candor. Term limits forced him to retire this year as Senate President. His blunt honesty, strong as smelling salts, will be missed.

Local doctors and nurses have felt the pain of a sick health-care industry, but remained dedicated professionals.

Hundreds of selfless saints work long hours in hazardous neighborhoods ministering to the most lost and hopeless cases in Cincinnati.

And right now, if you need a hero, a fireman or cop will risk his life for you or any other citizen in danger.

Some of the biggest heroes aren't in bowl games. They work and live right here in Cincinnati.

E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.