The day started pretty early for those involved in the Alamo Parade today. There have been lots of activities going on for days in preparation. There was a class on painting clown faces at the DeKeyrel's and then the floats and the golf carts were decorated and the biking groups spent a lot of time making their bikes into these darling elephants!. This morning final touches were made to the golf carts, some at the park and some in HEB's parking lot. Then all the parade people had to get themselves ready which when you are dressed like a clown takes a little time. I volunteered to help Shirley Smith with her makeup so I arrived at her house at 8:15 AM to do her face. It was my first time doing a clown face but I think I'd rather put the face on someone else than the other way around! If I do say so myself, I think Shirley looked pretty good when I was done!
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| Mary Benfield painting Shirley Smith's Face |
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| Isn't Shirley Adorable?! |
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| Shirley and Mary |
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| Jo Kinkead waiting for her ride to HEB |
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| The parade folks assembling to wait for the police escort to HEB |
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| Larry Chapin and Carltion Deschamp |
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| Darlene Peters and Marcy Deschamp |
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| Delora DeKeyrel and Larry Chapin |
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| Don DeKeyrel, Parade Coordinator |
The police gave us a nice escort and we all arrived safely at HEB, the starting point of the parade.
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| Now it is back to work |
Adding Finishing Touches
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| Jean Holmquist adding flowers to the cart |
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| This golf cart looked really cool but it never made it to the parade because of the wind! |
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| Carltion Deshamp and Larry Chapin |
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| Rich Ritchie, Shirley Smith and Donna Ritchie |
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| Tom Thinnes, Bob Babler and Josie Fehring working on the float |
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| The Biking Group and Their Elephants! |
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| Penny Vollrath and Darlene Peters |
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| Penny, Darlene, Bob Babler and Nicole Kenward |
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| Gypsy Woman - Sandy Hawn |
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| Pearl White and Shirley Smith |
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| Jim Melvin and Donna Ritchie |
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| Larry Chapin |
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| Marcy and Carltion Deshamp |
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| John Anderson working on his Lion Cage! |
You can't have a good parade without a good audience and our Winter Ranchers could be found all along the parade route. After taking pictures at HEB, we left before the parade started and camped out in front of the Reviewing Stand at Alamo Square. We took some pictures of folks we recognized along the parade route!
Right to Left: Linda Ravnsborg, Betty Luster, Rose Williams, Lady from Trophy Gardens, Jan Howard, Mark Williams, Roger Howard, Darrell Luster, Lee Clement
Left to Right: Larry Anenson, Sandy Allison, Jim Hamilton, Kenny Allison, Lee Clement, Darrell Luster, Roger Howard, Mark Williams, Jan Howard
Right to left: Bob and Peggy Zierath, and Candace Zierath are from Winter Ranch
Left to Right: Al Hight, Ralph Ress, Don and Sylvia Short and Shirley Ress
Left to Right: Mary Benfield, Miriam and Al Hight, Ralph Ress and Don Short
Right to Left: Julie Rademacher, Cheryl Graaf, Julie Betsinger, Merlin Graaf
Right to Left: Merlin Graaf, Jim Betsinger, Jim Rademacher, Della Rae and Marvin Orndorff,
Standing: Ron Doerschug
Left to Right: Linda Doershug, Nila Rezac, Paul and Jan Wilson and Cathy Chapin
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| Right to Left: Bob Crow, Ray Nutzmann, Bobby Logue, Theresa Zimmerman, and Bev Nutzmann, |
Right to Left: xx, xx, Don and Connie Mueller
THE PARADE
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| First, the police |
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| Followed by the Fire Trucks - all blaring anything they have that makes noise! |
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| The Parade Marshals |
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| Float From The Hermanos Vazquez Circus in Donna, TX |
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| Circus Clown |
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| The Shriners |
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| The San Juan Gardens Lawn Chair Drill Team won third Place |
Here comes Winter Ranch!!
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| Penny Vollrath and Judy Teply |
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Vicki Miller and Rosie Dorsey
Riding the Winter Ranch Fire Truck! |
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Darlene Peters and xx
with Jean Snyder and Edna Odendahl on the Elephants |
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| Dale and Kathy Loerch |
Winter Ranch's Dale Loerch was voted the Chamber's Winter Texan of the Year for all his efforts on behalf of the needy in Alamo!
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| The Biking Group with Their Elephants on Parade |
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| Pat Cullett and Jean Snyder |
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| Lois Green |
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| Jerry Ritchie holding the circus banner that didn't survive the wind! |
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| Jerry Rezac |
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Jo Kinkead, Walking
Shirley Smith and Jerry Ritchie |
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| Donna Campbell on the bicycle |
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| Shari and Jim Melvin |
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| Lion Tamer, Martha Anderson and Driver, Donna Ritchie |
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| John Anderson (the Lion) |
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| Delora (clown) and Don DeKeyrel (The Ring Master) |
The DeKeyrels coordinate all of the parade activities that Winter Ranch participates in
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| Herb and Jean Holmquist playing the calliope and Mo Hawn is the driver |
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| Marcy and Carltion Deschamp |
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| The Winter Ranch Float |
Larry Chapin (clown riding a flamingo), Bob Babler (The Strong Man), Sandy Hawn (The Gypsy Fortune Teller),
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| Rex and Betty Humke bring up the Rear |
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| Trophy Gardens Entered the Parade This Year |
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| Happy Herbie - Parade Grand Marshal |
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| The End of Trophy Gardens |
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| Alamo Paradise Acres |
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| The Ghosts - A School Group |
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| Boys And Girls Club Float |
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| Police Ending the Parade |
CHAMBER AWARDS PARADE PRIZES
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| Winter Ranch won 1st Place in the Senior Division |
We also won 1st Place in the Overall Theme Presentation Category. This year's theme - if you didn't guess is "Circus".
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| Don and Delora DeKeyrel and Larry and Cathy Chapin |
holding our two new trophies. We need another trophy case!
After the parade, many of the parade participants had lunch at the El Dorado to wind down and celebrate another successful parade!
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| Larry Chapin thanking everyone for their participation! |
Is Larry Blushing?? Oh, no, it's just his remaining clown makeup!! LOL
