Red, White & Blue Bicycle Parade Update

By Sheila Briones 2004 Parade Chairman

Despite the hot and muggy weather, Garden Oaks residents, young and old alike, came out in the hundreds to support this year’s “Let Freedom Ring” Bicycle Parade held at the Rick Englert Spark Park on Saturday, July 3rd.

Garden Oaks’ Civic Club President, Trey Wood, officially opened the festivities and welcomed everyone. Parade Marshall, Toni Lawrence, District A City Council member, followed, leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Sea Scouts Honor Guard from St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, Ship 24, led the parade, followed by Toni Lawrence riding in a red, Mercedes convertible driven by Trey Wood and Harley & Dottie Wood (family dogs). Next came the following vehicles:

• Harmony, the Hippo-pautomobile, driven by Sue Shefman
• A classic Unimog (military vehicle) with Warren Walden and his twin boys, Sean & Sterling, at the helm
• A 1972 Oldsmobile 442 driven by owner Doug Gavin
• A restored Studebaker truck driven by Jerry and his family
• Two Art Cars—the BatWing, driven by Johnny J. Rojas and a yellow “Child Advocates” Ferrari driven by Alan Leach
• Keller Williams – The Garden Group in a yellow Thunderbird and bicyclists Debbie Kotzur and Cookie Roberts followed alongside
• The “Jolly Roger” Boat float entered by the Sea Scouts and driven by Rob Pelley

Rounding out the parade were 150 residents on tricycles, wagons, bicycles, strollers, golf carts and some on foot and others accompanied by their pets.

After the parade, everyone gathered for the announcement of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each of the eleven categories. Congratulations to all the winners.

Many thanks go to the following individuals and businesses for their support:

• Keller Williams – The Garden Group for their generous gift of $250, which helped underwrite the parade
• Tom and Judy Wurth, Garden Oaks residents, for donating two gift certificates to their shop, the Urban Bicycle Gallery, located at 1212 Durham
• Toby Lister for donating a $50 gift certificate to two downtown establishments, Dean’s Credit Clothing and Clark’s Recording Studio, both located at Main @ Preston
• Pat Buron, Shannon King, and Janice Walden, our “official parade photographers.”
• Beto Anaya & Allison Hutson for providing 8 cases of Ozarka water
• Eddie “Balloon Man” Mijares for his balloon creations
• Tina Sabuco, owner of ARTS ALIVE!, for her help as the “official Parade announcer” and for the use of her sound system
• The trio of judges consisting of Dian Austin, Sandy Altman and Blake Woods
• Chris Skeen, Skipper of the Sea Scouts, and assistant, Chris Leavitt and Honor Guard members James Skeen, Kristen Robertson, Michelle Riley
• Garden Oaks Civic Club for their financial support
• Bryan Taylor, President of the Art Cars group, who got the word out to all Art Car members
• Barbara Harville, Chief of Staff, Toni Lawrence’s office

Special thanks go to all of the following volunteers who offered their time and services to help make the parade a tremendous success:

Registration Table

Janice Walden, Bicycle Parade Co-Chair

Susan Gavin

Rita Hartman

Angela Winston

Parade Route Marshals

Pete & Joan Baron

Robert Carlin

Ed & Brenda de Alba

Wayne Forster

Herb Kellner

Tina Nieto

Shelley Rogers

Category Marshals

David Bell

Casey Farris

Jan Forster

Charlotte & Ralph Hayes

Charlie & Jane Kelso Winter

Jesse Lopez

Susan Saranie

Rich & Rebecca Stark

Stacey Wood

Don’t forget to view the parade photos by Pat Buron and Janice Walden.

July 4, 2003 Garden Oaks Parade

See photos and thank yous from the 2003 parade here.

2004 Parade Pictures

See the photos by Pat Buron

See the photos by Janice Walden