Entertainment Magazine: Tucson: Events: Tucson Rodeo: Grand Marshals

Grand Marshals are a grand tradition with the Tucson Rodeo Parade

Every year, several weeks before the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade, the Grand Marshal is named to host the parade. The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc. is a non-profit organization that plans and organizes the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade and operates the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, a collection of horse-drawn vehicles and Western memorabilia. For more information about the Tucson Rodeo Parade, visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org or call (520) 294-1280.

Giffords, Kelly honored as 2013 Grand Marshals

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband and former astronaut Mark KellyFormer Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband and former astronaut Mark Kelly, have been chosen as the Grand Marshals for the 88th Tucson Rodeo Parade.

They are honored for their community service to southern Arizona and the nation.

"Gabby," as she's affectionately known, is a native Tucsonan, graduating from University High School before graduating from Scripps College in California and earning a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University.

She worked as an associate for regional economic development at Price Waterhouse in New York before becoming president and CEO of the family business, El Campo Tire Warehouses, a local auto service business.

Her political career began with an election to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000. In 2002, she became the youngest woman to be elected to the Arizona State Senate. In 2003, she was named the Arizona Family Literacy's Outstanding Legislator, and in 2004 was named Legislator of the Year by the Mental Health Association of Arizona.

She was re-elected Senator in 2004, but resigned that position in 2005 to begin her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2006, she became the third woman in Arizona history to be elected to the U.S. Congress representing US. District 8, and was re-elected in 2008 and 2010.

She was an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that included a secure border, increasing Border Patrol Agents and a guest worker program. She was also a staunch supporter of the military and increasing the minimum wage. In February 2010, Congresswoman Giffords honored the Tucson Rodeo Parade with an official commendation on the Congressional Record for its 85 years of service to the Tucson and Arizona community.

In January 2011 she was wounded in an assassination attempt, and resigned from Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery.

Mark Kelly is a retired US. astronaut and former Navy Captain and naval aviator who flew combat missions in the Gulf War. Kelly was selected to become a NASA Space Shuttle pilot in 1996 and piloted the shuttle in 2001 and 2006, and commanded shuttle missions in 2008 and 2011, the latter being his final mission and the final flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. During this mission, he received a call and papal blessing from Pope Benedict XVI; the first such call from a Pope to astronauts during a mission.

Gabby and Mark Kelly married in 2007. After the Tucson shooting, they were thrust into the media spotlight and he has become a spokesman on what constitutes acceptable civil discourse. They have penned a memoir about their individual and shared experiences after the shooting titled Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope. They have recently launched an initiative called Americans for Responsible Solutions, calling for changes in laws to require responsible gun ownership and reduce gun violence.

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee is proud to honor Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelley as Grand Marshals for their history of national and local community service, and their legacy of hope, strength and love.

2012: Tucson Boys Chorus

Tucson Boys Chorus by Ed Alexander 2012The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee typically honors individuals as its Grand Marshal. This year the Parade Committee is honoring a Tucson institution. The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee typically honors individuals as its Grand Marshal. This year, the Parade Committee is honoring a Tucson institution. Read more about the Tucson Boys Chorus.

2011: Joel Valdez

Joel ValdezJoel D. Valdez, a Tucson native, is selected as the 2011 Grand Marshal for the Tucson Rodeo Parade.

Valdez currently serves as a special adviser to President Robert N. Shelton of the UA Foundation. In his position, he provides guidance on the University of Arizona’s growth and development and the UA’s role in the city’s Modern Streetcar Project.

In 1966 the City of Tucson recruited Valdez to serve as Administrative Assistant to the Library Director. It was during his years with the library that his expertise in budget planning and monitoring was formed.

One of his major contributions while at the library was the opening of a bilingual branch in Tucson's south side, a concept in library service that became a model for cities throughout the southwest.  In 1970 Valdez advanced into the City Manager's office.  Within a year he was promoted to the position of Assistant City Manager and assumed a supervisory role over the departments of Library, Finance, Parks/Recreation, Community Center, and Federal Programs. His years of public service, community ties, and many accomplishments make Joel a perfect fit for selection as Grand Marshal of the Tucson Rodeo Parade.Continue reading about the 2011 Grand Marshal Joel Valdez.

2010: "Big Jim" Griffith

Teacher, founder, anthropologist, author, story teller, award-winning musician, and folklorist all describe the 2010 Tucson Rodeo Parade Grand Marshal, James “Big Jim” Griffith.

James “Big Jim” GriffithFor over four decades Big Jim has studied folkways and religious expression throughout the United States-Mexico border region.

Griffith’s work as an academic and public folklorist has been extraordinary and his legacy includes founding the Southwest Folklore Center at the University of Arizona and the annual Tucson Meet Yourself Folk Arts Festival.

Jim Griffith was born in Santa Barbara, California, and came to Tucson in 1955 to attend the University of Arizona. He has considered himself a permanent Tucson resident since 1963.

He loves Southern Arizona and has said, “I guess I’ll stay in Tucson as long as it gets worse slower than other places.” He received all three of his degrees from the University of Arizona, the Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and art history in 1973.

From 1979 until his retirement in 1998 he ran the University’s Southwest Folklore Center. He is currently a Research Associate at the Center. With his wife, Loma, he started Tucson Meet Yourself in 1974.

The celebration of Tucson’s ethnic and cultural diversity now draws over 100,000 participants annually. Although he retired as director of the festival in 1995, he is once again heavily involved in this project.

Starting in 1985, Jim Griffith wrote and hosted “Southern Arizona Traditions,” a weekly 3- minute spot on KUAT-TV’s Arizona Illustrated program. For 2 years in the late 1980s he wrote a monthly column on “Local Custom” for the now-defunct City Magazine.

He was curator for eleven exhibitions of regional traditional arts, the most recent being “La Cadena Que No Se Corta/The Unbroken Chain: The Traditional Arts of Tucson’s Mexican American Community,” at the University of Arizona Museum of Art in the winter of 1996-7. Griffith has written seven books on Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico folk arts, traditions and religious art.

He has been honored by several literary societies and includes such awards as the 2005 Henry Glassie Award and the 2009 Pima County Library Lifetime Achievement Award. He is currently researching for a book on the religious art of Sonora, and finishing a guide to regional folklore.

Big Jim is also an accomplished and award-winning banjo player. He recorded Dixie Cowboy, a CD collection of bluegrass and folk tunes, and also collected the songs and wrote the liner notes for the CD Heroes and Horses: Corridos of the Arizona-Sonora Borderlands, Jim Griffith’s professional commitment has always been to try to understand the cultures of this part of the border, and to pass along that understanding, as respectfully and accurately as possible, to the general public.

Tucson Mayor Robert E. Walkup, 2009 Tucson2009: Mayor Bob Walkup

The new Grand Marshall for the 2009 Tucson Rodeo Parade is Tucson's Mayor Robert (Bob) E. Walkup was named during the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade press conference.

2008: Humberto Lopez

Humberto LopezA self-made man, Humberto Lopez has washed dishes, dig ditches, worked fields, bagged groceries, and became one of the most recognized members of Tucson's business and non profit communities.

Lopez is recognized as the Tucson Rodeo Parade Grand Marshal for 2008 because he is a mentor, a leader, and a contributor to the community.

When Lopez was 12, his father died unexpectedly and his world changed dramatically. Both his mother and Lopez, who was the oldest of six children, went to work to support the family. Years of poverty followed.

He soon learned that the best way to escape the life of pverty was through education. His success came through hard work, perserverance and life lessons from family. Humberto holds two Public Accountant Certifications and a Bachelor's degree. He is president and co-founder of HSL Properties Inc, which deals primarily in the purchase, investment and development of real estate. He is active in community events, fundraisers and service organizations.

2007: Former Surgeon General Carmona

Former Surgeon General CarmonaIn a "roast style" presentation, former U.S. General Surgeon, and Tucson hero, Richard H. Carmona, was selected as the 2007 Grand Marshal of the 82nd Tucson Rodeo Parade.

Dr. Carmona, who finished his term as 17th Surgeon General of The United States, now serves as the Vice Chairman of Canyon Ranch and the CEO of the Canyon Ranch Health Division.

Originally trained in general and vascular surgery after medical school, Dr. Carmona began a second career in public health that propelled him to receive unanimous confirmation by the Senate in 2002 as theSurgeon General. Dr. Carmona also served as the Pima County Sheriff's Department surgeon and deputy sheriff.


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