Grand Marshals Past

Celebrity chef Paula Deen’s fan base is legion. Her books, magazine and television shows are enjoyed by millions of budding gastronomes who appreciate Deen’s down-home charm and copious butter usage. But her fame is by no means an anomaly in the high-profile world of Rose Parade grand marshals. Over the parade’s 122 years, some of the world’s most prominent citizens, including astronauts, writers, actors, artists, athletes and politicians have served in the honored position.

In the fledgling days of the parade, the grand marshals were generally local heroes, many of them tournament organizers. It wasn’t until 1930, when San Francisco Mayor James Rolph was offered the position, that someone from outside Pasadena was given the distinction.

And as the tournament grew, so did the stature of its grand marshals. Since 1933, when Mary Pickford became the first female grand marshal, such luminaries as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gregory Peck, Hank Aaron, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, President Gerald Ford, Lee Iacocca, Jimmy Stewart, Pelé, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnett, William Shatner, Charles Schulz and Tom Brokaw have presided over the parade.

And the title is not always held by a single person. In 1952, seven Medal of Honor recipients shared the privilege, while in 1970 the Apollo 12 astronauts split the marshaling duties. When ventriloquist Edgar Bergen was grand marshal in 1940, he brought along his friend, puppet Charlie McCarthy. Walt Disney elected to ride with his favorite mouse pal in 1966.

Since the position was opened to those outside the Pasadena area, only Chief Justice Earl Warren, President Richard Nixon and Bob Hope have led the Rose Parade twice. The lone three-timer is Shirley Temple Black, who first served in 1939 when she was 10 years old.