WBCA Names Parade Marshals for 115th Celebration
LAREDO, TX (November 14, 2011) – The Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association has selected outstanding community individuals to lead two of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration’s most traditional and time-honored events - the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars and the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade.
WBCA announced Monday that Sam L. Susser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Susser Holdings Corporation was selected as the 2012 Parade Marshal for the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade. The Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco received the same honor for the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars.
“We expect a high energy and fun filled parade with this year’s parade theme ‘Rockin’ in the USA!’” said WBCA president Jose A. Palacios, Jr. “What’s more American than Rock-n-Roll and George Washington? Still, music, in all its forms, is a universal language that everybody can enjoy; after all, we are the Celebration with Something for Everyone.”
“I’m sure the parade theme will inspire some fantastic ideas,” he added.
The Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade will be led by Sam L. Susser.
“I am honored to represent Stripes as marshal of this WBCA Parade which brings so much fun family entertainment for the local community,” said Sam L. Susser. “The Washington’s Birthday Celebration is a tribute to the cultural treasures of the city of Laredo; therefore, we are delighted to take part of this hallmark tradition of our South Texas culture and celebrate it with our Stripes and Laredo Taco Company customers.”
Susser is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Susser Holdings Corporation, which operates through its subsidiaries, Stripes LLC, Susser Petroleum Company LLC and Applied Petroleum Technologies (APT). Prior to founding the Southguard Corporation (predecessor to Susser Holdings) in 1988, Mr. Susser spent 1985-1987 with Salomon Brothers Inc. in New York City and in Dallas. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Susser is a member of the Advisory Board of the McCombs School of Business, the Advisory Board of the Schusterman Center for Judaic Studies, the Advisory Council for the Marine Science Institute at the University of Texas, and a member of the Advisory Council for the College of Business Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. He is also a Trustee and past Chairman of the Driscoll Foundation, which owns the Children's Hospital System in South Texas, and a Director of The Texas State Aquarium. In 2009, Mr. Susser was admitted to the Texas Business Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Catherine, have one daughter and two sons.
“Sam Susser has proven himself to be a wonderful corporate citizen and is a great and worthy addition to the distinguished list of past parade marshals,” said WBCA president Jose A. Palacios, Jr. “Susser, a Texas Business Hall of Fame member, is sure to enjoy the pageantry that the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday parade has to offer,”.
Anheuser-Busch is the longest standing sponsor of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, and is celebrating twenty years of being a generous and important piece of the Celebration.
“As a proud sponsor of The Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade, we could not be more pleased with this year’s selection of Sam Susser as the Parade Marshal. The L&F family has known Mr. Susser for many years and his involvement with South Texas is unequaled…with the Universities, Boys and Girls Club, STARS and numerous nonprofits in the area. Sam Susser is a great choice!” said Steve LaMantia, owner of L&F Distributors.
The IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars, which serves as a prelude to the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade, will be led by the Salesian Sisters.
"We are so pleased to be selected as the IBC Youth Parade Marshals for 2012,” said Sister Marie Gannon, speaking on behalf of the Salesian Sisters. “The Salesian Sisters have a 75 year history in Laredo educating and serving the youth. Being a part of this longstanding Laredo tradition, which celebrates our youth, is a wonderful honor for us."
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco are an international congregation of more than 14,000 sisters ministering to and with youth on every continent. The Community of Salesian Sisters was founded by St. John Bosco, in collaboration with St. Mary Mazzarello, on August 5, 1872 in Mornese, Alessandria, Italy. Over 100 years ago, the first Salesian Sisters arrived in the U.S.A. and settled in New Jersey.
“Who better to lead the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars than the Salesian Sisters who have had a hand in educating some of the youth of Laredo through the teachings of St. John Bosco for over 75 years,” said WBCA president Jose A. Palacios, Jr. “I’ve had an opportunity to work with the Salesian Sisters and know first-hand about the quality of education they provide. Their contribution to our society is immeasurable, as many of their former students have gone on to become productive members of society.”
The ministries of the Western Province include early childhood, elementary, and secondary education, Religious education centers, before and after-school programs, youth ministry, adult education, outreach programs for poor and disadvantaged women and children, boys and girls clubs, a young adult volunteer program, and summer camp programs. In addition to owning the Provincial House in San Antonio, TX, the Province owns three elementary schools: St. John Bosco in San Antonio, TX, Mary Help of Christians in Laredo, TX, and Salesian Elementary and Junior High in Corralitos, CA.
“IBC is proud that The Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco have been selected to serve as Parade Marshals for the 2012 IBC Youth Parade under the Stars,” said Anselmo Castro, IBC Senior Vice-President, WBCA Lifetime Director and former WBCA President. “The Salesian Sisters are outstanding Ambassadors and are most deserving of this honor. They teach and inspire our youth while reminding us of the power of prayer.”
This year’s parade theme is “Rockin’ in the USA,” – allowing for the participants to bring to life their favorite song, artist, music video, soundtrack, theme song or anthem.
The IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars, takes place Thursday February 16, 2012 at 6 p.m.; The Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade, will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 at 9 a.m., both follow a route South on San Bernardo to the heart of Laredo’s historic downtown district. Applications for participation in both parades are due Thursday, December 1, 2011 and can be downloaded from our website at www.wbcalaredo.org.
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration, founded in 1898, is the largest Celebration of its kind in the United States. The month-long celebration includes parades, a carnival, an air show, fireworks, live concerts, a sizzling jalapeño festival and many other fun and exciting events for every member of the family! Combined, WBCA events attract nearly 500,000 residents and visitors, and yearly contributes an estimated $14 million to the local economy.
The Washington's Birthday Celebration was recently ranked as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association (ABA) because of the excellent entertainment value it offers to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world.
The 115th Washington’s Birthday Celebration takes place January 19 - February 19, 2012. Tickets for events may be purchased beginning Feb. 6th. For additional information, visit www.wbcalaredo.org, e-mail wbca@wbcalaredo.org, contact the WBCA office at (956) 722-0589, text WBCA to 74455 or join WBCA on Facebook and/or Twitter. The WBCA office is located at 1819 E. Hillside Road in Laredo, TX.
