The Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade Association is honored to name Houston Hogg of Owensboro as the 2016 Grand Marshal of the Christmas Parade. Houston and his wife of 44 years, Deborah, will lead the parade when the whistle blows at 4:30pm on November 19 to begin a community celebration whose theme is “Home for the Holidays!”
The Hoggs have six children and 19 grandchildren and have been foster parents to more than 500 children over the past 25 years. Some may remember Hogg, who retired in 2013, as a coal equipment operator senior of Indiana Michigan Power’s Rockport Plant after working at the plant for 27 years, but the Hoggs have touched the lives of many in our community. Hogg brought Owensboro in the spotlight earlier this year when Houston, the former UK running back, was honored as one of the first four African-American football players at the University of Kentucky. The university erected a statue of him and three teammates on the Lexington campus. Hogg has also been featured in Owensboro Living, the Louisville Courier-Journal, Lexington Herald-Leader, and various other publications and media outlets.
Houston is a proud member of the University of Kentucky K-Club, described by their website as “an exclusive group of men and women who want to stay in the game, cherish their sports commitment, and nurture the legacy they helped develop,” and Hogg family’s influence has been seen in various athletic venues through the years, mostly at Owensboro High School but also at Owensboro Catholic.
Houston’s life is a testament of forgiveness, faithfulness, and honor. He and his wife have dedicated themselves to our community and have opened their hearts and home to many. Sunrise Children’s Services proudly named them to Foster Parent Emeritus status after 25 years of foster parent ministry and the Hoggs were named National FFTA Foster Parents of the Year for their faithful service to the foster parent ministry.
Honorary Grand Marshal – Adam Johnston
A lifelong resident of Owensboro, Johnston first became involved with and a fan of the annual parade at just 4 years old and is devoted to the mission of the parade committee to ensure that Owensboro has a Christmas Parade every year. Adam as a member of the parade organization for 10 years would put his love and devotion to the parade experience for Owensboro residents into action even further when he accepted the chairmanship of the volunteer parade committee and worked an untold number of hours making sure every parade under his command was better than the year before. Under his leadership, Johnston spearheaded efforts to bring Florence Henderson, Carson Kressley, the Clydesdales, and numerous other organizations to Owensboro after successfully bringing the parade back to its roots when the parade route moved back to 2nd Street in honor of tradition.
Adam graduated from Owensboro Catholic High in 1998, married the love of his life, Emily (Ebelhar) 13 years ago, is the proud father of three, and feels it is an honor to be employed by City of Owensboro for over 15 years. Johnston holds a graduate degree from WKU and truly believes in giving back to his community in which he lives and works. Adam refuses to accept recognition for his many projects that honor our communities and the men and women who dedicate themselves to making Owensboro safer, better, and a place where families can experience all life has to offer.
The Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade Association is humbled to bring Adam and his family back to the parade to honor his dedication to the citizens of Owensboro.
