G.O.A.T. Show Grand Marshals
Students of Sewanee Elementary School will serve as the Grand Marshals of the 2026 Sewanee Fourth of July Parade in honor of the school’s 100th anniversary.
The announcement was made by Dylan McClure, chair of the Sewanee Fourth of July Committee, during the school’s centennial celebration on May 8. The honor recognizes a century of service to the community and the generations of students who have passed through the school’s doors since it opened in 1926.
As Grand Marshals, Sewanee Elementary students will take a leading role in this year’s parade. Students are currently designing and creating a float to commemorate the school’s centennial and will participate by riding on the float and walking in the parade.
The selection is especially meaningful in a community where many Fourth of July parade attendees are Sewanee Elementary alumni or family members of former students. For 100 years, the school has been an important part of life on the Mountain, helping shape generations of children and fostering connections that span decades.
By naming the students as Grand Marshals, the Fourth of July Committee is recognizing both the school’s rich history and the young people who will carry its legacy into the future.
Come join us on July 4 to celebrate Sewanee’s finest!
Themes and Grand Marshals throughout the Years
1986 TENNESSEE HOMECOMING
GM –ARTHUR BEN CHITTY
1987 COMMUNITY SPIRIT FOR ALL
GM –JAMES AVENT
1988 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - SEWANEE THE BEAUTIFUL
GM –MAJORS FAMILY
1989 HAPPINESS IS...
GM –SAM AND JOAN WILLIAMSON
1990 CELEBRATE FREEDOM
GM –LON AND KATHRYN VARNELL
1991 A SALUTE TO AMERICA'S HEROES
GM –CLINTON WILLIAMS
1992 THE 4TH: A GREAT TIME FOR REUNION
GM –FINNEYS
1993 SEWANEE GOES COUNTRY
GM –STORMIN' NORMAN FROM 93.3 COUNTRY
1994 THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
GM –ERIC ELLIS & STUDENTS FROM SES
1995 A DECADE OF FIREWORKS & FUN - A TENNESSEE TRADITION
GM –ARTHUR BEN CHITTY
1996 200 YEARS OF VOLUNTEERS - A BICENTENNIAL BLAST
GM –CHIEF DAVID GREEN
1997 A FAIRY TALE 4TH OF JULY
GM –PAUL AND EVELYN MOONEY
1998 EVENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
GM –BILL AND BETTY KERSHNER
1999 A CENTURY TO REMEMBER
GM –MYRTIS KEPPLER AND MARTHA MCCRORY
2000 SEWANEE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
GM –JOEL AND TRUDY CUNNINGHAM
2001 2001: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY
GM –DUVIE CRAVENS
2002 A SALUTE TO AMERICA’S HEROES
GM –SEWANEE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT & EMS
2003 GOD BLESS AMERICA
GM – ACTIVE / RETIRED VETERANS / MILITARY
2004 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
GM – DORA TURNER
2005 AMERICA – LAND OF THE FREE
GM –JACK GESSELL
2006 CELEBRATE THE GRAND OL’ FLAG
GM –LOUISE IRWIN AND INA MYERS AND MONTY ADAMS
AND HENRY ARNOLD (HONORARY)
2007 CELEBRATING OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
GM –HARRY YEATMAN
2008 SEWANEE GOES GREEN FOR THE RED, WHITE, & BLUE
GM –JOE AND MARY SUE CUSHMAN
2009 AN OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH
GM –JOE DAVID MCBEE
IN MEMORY OF DARLA SHERRILL
2010 A STAR SPANGLED 4TH
GM -JOHN AND BONNIE MCCARDELL
2011 25 YEARS OF CELEBRATING THE 4TH
GM -GERALDINE PICCARD AND DAVID GREEN
2012 A YANKEE DOODLE 4TH
GM -JAMES AND LULA BURNETT
2013 AN APPLIE PIE 4THOF JULY
GM -ANNE LORENZ AND BETTY CARPENTER
2014 A RAZZLE DAZZLE 4THOF JULY
GM - CESAR LEAL AND GARY STURGIS
2015 SEWANEE PURPLE MOUNTAIN’S MAJESTY
GM -STEVE BLOUNT
2016 30 YEARS OF SEWANEE 4THOF JULY CELEBRATIONS
GM - MIKE MAXON
2017 MAY THE 4THBE WITH YOU
GM - ERIC AND MICHELLE BENJAMIN
2018 SEA TO SHINING SEA
GM - JOHN GASS BRATTON
2019 PEACE, LOVE, & FIREWORKS
GM - JOHN AND BONNIE GREEN
2021 MASK-ERADE
GM - DIXON AND ANNWN MYERS
2022 HOT DIGGITY ALL-AMERICAN DOGS
GM - NANCY J. BERNER AND DAVID B. COE
2023 FLY LIKE AN EAGLE
GM - KEN AND LYNN TAYLOR
2024 RED WHITE BLUE THANKFUL FOR YOU
GM - ROB AND PHOEBE PEARIGEN
2025 HOUSE OF THE ALL-STARS
GM - DOUG CAMERON
2026 G.O.A.T. SHOW
GM -