Goodman Christmas Parade
The city of Goodman held its annual Christmas parade on Saturday featuring special grand marshals.
The city of Goodman held its annual Christmas parade on Saturday featuring special grand marshals.
The grand marshals were the 1964 state basketball championship team, coach and cheerleaders. The group was gathered before the parade at the Goodman Senior Center. Coach Charles Goade retired in 1998 from Neosho after teaching for 39 years. Team member:
• Bob Widener of McNatt, Mo., retired from Hiland Dairy after 35 years.
• John Collard of Springfield, Mo., retired school teacher of 33 years who owned a silk-screening business for 10 years.
• Don Jones of McNatt, retired after teaching for 20 years.
• Robert Webb of Boston, Mass., a marketing executive.
• Jerry Caywood of Grove, Okla., is a truck driver.
• Ralph Epperson of Bentonville, Ark., is a retired contractor.
• Kenneth Blankenship of Collierville, Tenn., a pilot for Flight Options. Cheerleader: • Sandy Hobbs of Anderson, a retired teacher of 31 years.
• Diane Hobbs Andris of Neosho, a retired counselor.
• Linda Wylie Broady, retired from Warrensburg School District.
• Leta Chase Cope, retired from Southwestern Bell and the state of Missouri.
Lining up before the parade was a float by Banner Nazarene Church, located between Goodman and Anderson. The float was a boat called the Disciple Ship. Loretta Woodrum of Banner Nazarene Church said this was the group’s second parade. They had also participated in the Anderson Christmas parade.
“I think it’ll be fun,” she said. “I could have been a little warmer, but we’re OK.”
Georgia Henderson and Christina Mackey, partners in Memories With Gabby, were preparing to hitch their horse, Gabby, to a horsedrawn carriage. They said the business rents carriage rides for all occasions, such as weddings and cowboythemed events.
“We’re pretty excited,” Henderson said about the parade.
L&M Construction, Sarrat’s Welding and Sarrat Timber entered a small truck in the parade. Lacy Van Dorn of Goodman was awaiting the beginning of the parade.
“I’m excited for it. I grew up here. It’s something we look forward to every year,” she said.
The Stephens family was putting the finishing touches on a dune buggy stacked high with presents and surrounded by children dressed as elves. Autumn Stephens said, “We’re just doing this for fun. The kids have wanted to do it for a couple of years.”
The parade had other entrants, such as classic cars, goats and horses. A large crowd turned out to watch the parade amble down Main Street.
“I’m excited for it. I grew up here. It’s something we look forward to every year.”
Lacy Von Dorn
Goodman resident