Ironton Christmas parade Monday
Published 12:00 am Friday, November 29, 2002
Lou Pyles is hoping for a little snow this Monday.
Even if she doesn't get her wish, she said this year's Ironton Christmas Parade is a great start to the Christmas season.
"This event is an open invitation for people to come into our town to visit," she said.
At 7 p.m. Monday night, the streets of Ironton will be filled with marching bands, veterans, cheerleaders, floats and many others for the city's Christmas parade.
For more than 20 years, the Ironton Business Association has been organizing the parade. Lou Pyles has been in charge between six to eight of those years.
This year will be the first year awards will be given for floats -- one will be a Grand Marshal's award and the other is the People's Choice award. The latter award will be the judges' determination of what float the public seems to like the best.
The Grand Marshal itself will make history. Instead of an individual, the Liebert Corporation was given the position. This is the first time this has been given to a business.
"Liebert does so much for our community by supplying jobs and giving back to the community," Pyles said. "The associates work hard to do their part to make the community better."
Mayor Bob Cleary was also pleased with the decision.
"Liebert is the best corporate neighbor any community could have," he said. "If we were to go away from an individual, I couldn't think of a better corporation."
Pyles has been organizing the parade since September, and she said she believes that the parade will be much better than previous ones.
Instead of a sleigh with reindeer, Santa will be in a horse-drawn carriage with horses owned by Robin and Ralph Hale of Ashland, Ky. Pyles said this is because it is not likely Santa will have enough snow to pull his sleigh.
She also hopes the parade will help children, and possibly adults, believe in Santa Claus as long as possible. This is why the identity of the actor playing the large man in the red suit is strictly confidential, she said.
"Some people have figured it out, but I'll never tell," she said. "I want to keep the Christmas spirit alive, even for adults. It's a good way for them to get away from all their problems and worries."
Parade Line-Up
DIVISION 1
Second and Railroad Streets
Commanders
Frank McCown
Jan Wisenberger
Sharon Walker
VFW Post 8850 Color Guard
Parade Banner
Ironton High School Marching Band
Grand Marshal -- Liebert Corporation
Ironton Business Association President -- Mark Compston
Mayor Bob Cleary
Cyndi's School of Dance
Ironton Junior Varsity Cheerleaders
Hecla Water Association Float
Open Door School Bell Choir
DIVISION 2
Railroad Street behind the first division
Commanders
Richard Walton
Bob Blankenship
South Point High School Marching Band
South Point After-School Program
Ponderosa Restaurant float
Girl Scout Troop 1258 and 1290
Yvonne DeKay School of Dance
WTCR Radio truck
Check Advance car and mascot
DIVISION 3
Fourth Street beside Post Office
Commanders
Kathleen Patrick
Carl Bowen
Rock Hill High School Marching Band
B 97.1 Station truck and mascot
Rock Hill Elementary Girl Scouts
Rock Hill Middle School Cheerleaders
Teeny Miss Flame -- Shelby Daton
Ohio Association Youth Group
St. Joseph High School Cheerleaders
DIVISION 4
Fourth Street, in front of Wendy's
Commanders
Sue Lunsford
Carolyn Littner
Ohio University Southern Activity Band
Lawrence County Recycling and Litter Prevention Program
Miss May -- Leslie Dawn Cade
Little Miss America Tribute -- Savannah Bowen
Rock Hill Girl Scouts
Coal Grove Little League Cheerleaders
DIVISION 5
Fourth and Railroad Streets to Fifth and Railroad Streets
Commanders
Jason Stephens
Les Boggs
Portsmouth Ambulance Service
Military Order of Purple Heart, Lawrence County 765
Pageant Queen -- Brianna Dawn Diamond
Collins Career Center Public Safety Vehicle
Rock Hill Homecoming Queen -- Anna Spears
Ironton Fire Department
DIVISION 6
One Stop lot
Santa and his Helpers
Jesse Roberts
Stephanie Roberts
Brent Pyles
Dee Moore
Eddie Collins
Lou Pyles