Rose Parade Announces Theme for ’95

The 1995 Rose Parade will have the theme “Sports--Quest for Excellence,” Tournament of Roses Assn. President Michael Ward announced Friday.

Tournament officials also announced that Ward, 57, had been elected president after assuming the top position last June after the death of then-President Delmer D. Beckhart. Ward, a former quarterback for Pasadena High School and Arizona State University, has been a 33-year volunteer with the nonprofit Tournament of Roses Assn.

Ward said the sports-related theme for next year’s parade will not be limited to traditional, well-known competitions. “We plan to salute the spirit and enthusiasm that people have for all types of activities enjoyed throughout the world,” he said.

The 106th Rose Parade in Pasadena will be followed by the 81st Rose Bowl game featuring the Pacific 10 Conference and Big Ten Conference football champions.

The game and the Rose Parade will be held on Monday, Jan. 2, because Tournament of Roses tradition dictates that the festivities are never held on a Sunday. Jan. 1 has fallen on Sunday 16 times in the Rose Parade’s 106-year history.

Tournament officials said they are hoping for a peaceful parade. The buildup to the 1993 event was marked by protesters pressing for more diversity within the tournament hierarchy.

Before this year’s events, tournament officials added five women and minority members to the formerly all-male executive committee and the parade was completed without incident.