The St. Charles Business Alliance and its parade committee kicked-off the holiday season by announcing Steve Martin as the Grand Marshal for the annual 2021 Electric Christmas Parade. The Electric Christmas Parade is part of St. Charles Holiday Homecoming weekend which begins on Friday, November 26th with the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 27th.
Martin is a lifelong resident of St. Charles. He graduated from St. Charles High School in 1971. Steve started his career as a community banker and has recently retired after 29 years of employment as the Vice President Head of Loans for First State Bank. Martin is happily enjoying his retirement with his wife of 43 years, Cindy, along with his children and grandchildren.
Martin has volunteered heavily in the St. Charles community with numerous boards, committees, programs and events. In 2014, Martin was honored with the Charlemagne Award, recognizing a lifetime of community service. He was also the recipient of the 2018 School District 303 Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition for his high level of achievement and contributions to his community.
Martin said he was “stunned and humbled” when he heard the news.
“I learned about being named Grand Marshal on October 5 at the monthly St. Charles Business Alliance Events Committee Meeting. I have been on the committee (or its predecessor committees) for many years. I was so surprised when they told me! I asked how could I have been selected without knowing about it? I was told that the rest of the committee had ‘met behind my back!’ I’d never considered myself as a candidate for Grand Marshal.”
For over 41 years, Martin has been the Chief Marshal of the St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade and St. Patrick’s Parade. He has also marshaled additional parades including the Memorial Day Parade, Labor Day Parade and 1984 Sesquicentennial Parade.
“I have marshaled every Christmas Parade except one since the first parade in 1980. Years ago, I became the Chief Marshal, responsible for recruiting volunteers to serve as Parade Marshals, training them and guiding them, making sure that all entries are lined up in the proper sequence and ready to go.
“I like to say that we create order out of chaos in the staging area prior to the start of the parade. At parade time, with assistance from other Parade Marshals, we send each entry on its way down Main Street. I also assist with the parade line-up sequence about 10 days before the parade.
“The Chief Marshal is a behind-the-scenes role. People lining the parade route don’t see the Chief Marshal. However, they do see the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal typically has no involvement in the organization or operation of the parade, but has a very visible role in the parade, riding on a float. This year is different. I’ll be working the staging area until parade time and then hop on the Grand Marshal float. I have an experienced Parade Marshal – Steve Gibson – who will step up as Chief Marshal once I leave the staging area.”
For more information on the parade and other St. Charles Holiday Homecoming festivities and business specials around town, please visit www.stcholidayhomecoming.com. Or if you would like to be a volunteer, please email [email protected].
