“Governor Brad O’Henry said, ‘Yes we can’ have the 27th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Oklahoma City by proclaiming Saturday, March 14th the official date for the annual event. Lining up at noon, then marching at 1 p.m. from Sheridan and Walker and heading all the way to Bricktown, the parade will celebrate two groups, those who are Irish and those who wish they were,” said St. Patrick’s Day Parade spokesman and organizer Paula Jones.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee met with Gov. O’Henry last month and the photographs are available upon request from stpatsparade@cox.net.
On March 2nd at 1:30 p.m. the St. Patrick’s Committee met with House Speaker Chris O’Benge to officially proclaim the support of the Legislature for the parade. Tuesday, March 3, the group was planning to meet with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. "Mayor Cornett agrees with us that every ‘Big League City’ must have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade to ensure the quality of life that other large cities enjoy and celebrate,” Jones said.
“The Parade’s Grand Marshall is Integris Health President Stan Hupfeld. Integris is the premier health care provider in Oklahoma with 13 hospitals operating in the Sooner State. A native of Dallas, Texas, Hupfeld has been an admininstrator of hospitals in the Lone Star State and was a member of the University of Texas 1963 National Football Championship Team, but we decided to have him as Grand Marshall anyway!” Jones said.
“Thousands of man hours have already been put into the annual parade and we expect the largest crowd ever wearing the green of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland,” Jones said.
“There are very strict requirements from the City of Oklahoma City in order to get permission to have a parade, while many organizations have been unable to meet these goals, we remained undaunted. While some parades were rejected, Oklahoma City officials said, YES YOU CAN have the St. Patrick’s Parade in Oklahoma City,” Jones said.
“We are praying for great weather so all of the planning and arrangements will provide Oklahomans a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the life of St. Patrick and the traditions that have brought such a great legacy of hard-work and wonderful people to our great nation,” Jones said.
About the photo:
Members of the St. Patrick’s Day Committee met with Governor Brad Henry to receive his declaration that the annual parade can be held March 14. From left: Sandy Pembroke, Stan Hupfeld of Integris Health, Grand Marshal of the 2009 parade, Peter Pembroke, Governor Brad Henry, parade chairman Paula Jones, Tim O’Connor of Catholic Charities.