Parade InformationPrevious Grand Marshals
1985- William "Pinky" McHenry, who was instrumental in the revitalization of St. John's Breadline and Friends of Brother James Court
1986- Illinois Presbyterian Home administrator Thomas O'Fallon, great-grandmother Margaret "peg" Sullivan Kelly and Donna Mulcahy Fitts, a secretary of state administrator
1987- Donna Conway Miller, member of St. Patrick's Parish for more than a half-century
1988- Springfield realty broker Patrick Grady. Mike Eruzione, captain of the U.S. Olympic gold-meal winning men's hockey team, served as celebrity grand marshal.
1989- Sangamon County State's Attorney Don Cadagin
1990- Architect Paul O'Shea
1991- George Behl, decorated World War II veteran involved in veteran education
1992- Maureen Mary Kannady, Special Olympics competitor
1993- No parade
1994- Three-time national champion Sangamon State Prairie Stars soccer team and their coach, Aydin Gonulsen
1995- Jean Driscoll, winner, women's wheelchair course record holder and world record holder of the Boston Marathon from 1990-1994
1996- Dermot O'Callaghan, city council member and business leader of Springfield sister city Killarney, Ireland
1997- Melissa "Missy" Rogers, student at Lutheran High School and a member of the Justin Highland Dancers
1998- Two units of Army National Guard soldiers, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and the 106th Aviation Regiment, recently returned from service in Eastern Europe
1999- Celebrating the theme of "Irish Moms and Dads," the grand marshals were Ed Grady and Norene O'Brien Davlin
2000- Jim O'Toole, founding president of Springfield’s St. Patrick's Day Marching Band Parade
2001- A contingent of World War II veterans, escorted by six marching honor guard units, the 144th Army National Guard band, WWII re-enactor Jim Gray’s Army Jeep and the Elks Lodge's giant American glad lead the parade
2002- Two local pairs figure-skaters – Jennifer Fortin, 12, of Springfield and Alex Baird, 14, of Sherman
2003- American Legion posts 32 and 809
2004- Chatham Glenwood High School soccer team
2005- The soldiers and families of the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and 232nd Corps Support Battalion
2006- Randy Duncan, an Abe Lincoln personality from Carlinville and Springfield city workers, in honor of their service in the aftermath of the tornadoes
2007- Marge and Homer Simpson, portrayed by Fox TV's Rachael Atchison and WQLZ's Matt Mottershaw
2008- Four previous St. Pat's parade presidents: Ray Cachares, Pat O'Grady, John Reid and Tim Strutz
2009- Butch Elzea, community activist best known for his work on Edwin Watts Southwind Park
2010- TBA
The official Web page of the Springfield St. Patrick's Day Marching Band Parade
P.O. BOX 424, Springfield, Illinois 62705
