KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

This year’s duties as Christmas parade grand marshal will require two pairs of hands as long-time community volunteers RJ and Sande Hayes will take the reins as the parade’s grand marshals.

The announcement of the decision was made at the October chamber coffee, held Tuesday, Oct. 22, at South Jackson Performing Arts Center and co-sponsored by Woodard’s Diamonds & Design.

Inside the performing arts center’s auditorium, Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Hope Nunley, South Jackson/Christmas Parade committee chairman member Greg Gressel and Trent McNabb of Stan McNabb joined together at the stage to make the announcement of who will be the grand marshal for the 68^th annual Tullahoma Christmas Parade, sponsored by Stan McNabb Automotive.

After Nunley reminded attendees that this year’s parade theme is “Planes, Trains and Candycanes”, Trent McNabb said Stan McNabb Automotive is happy to once again to be the sponsor of “Tullahoma’s biggest community event” and said this year’s theme was selected by a student at Robert E. Lee Elementary School.

McNabb passed the microphone to Gressel and said, while trying to not give away who was selected this year immediately, this year’s grand marshals are long supporters of cheerleaders in the community.

“The couple is the definition of power,” Gressel said. “Two people who each are influential and successful in their own rights, yet this couple have used their success and influence to make Tullahoma a better place.”

He continued and said this year’s marshals could have done anything with their abilities, like invest in organizations that could help make the community great and use the influence to build themselves up.

“Instead, they have chosen to build the organizations that would strengthen the well-being of the Tullahoma community,” Gressel said.

He then highlighted some of the grand marshals’ involvement, including serving as director of United Way, charter member of the GFWC Centennial Women’s Club, president of the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce, serving in P.E.O. (Philanthropy Education Opportunity), AEDC Women’s Club, Sunrise Rotary Club, South Jackson Performing Arts Center, Boy Scouts of America, Hands-On Science Center, the Community Playhouse and so on.

“Together, they’ve traveled the world and brought their experiences home to make us better,” Gressel said. “So today we say thank you. Thank you for your investment in us, thank you for your investment in this community. They truly have made the quality of life in Tullahoma better through their service.”

After officially announcing the Hayes as this year’s grand marshals, which was met with a standing ovation from attendees, Gressel welcomed RJ and Sande to say a few words.

RJ said he was dumbfounded and had no idea of the announcement, and praised his wife as someone deserving of the honor.

“I just follow her around and do what she tells me to do,” RJ said.

Sande followed up and said she was speechless and thanked everyone. She noted that RJ was bit slower as he recently went through a heart valve replacement.

“I still have my hair though,” RJ quipped, which was met with laugher.

Sande thanked everyone again, and RJ said all they have done over the years was only a part of what was being done by other people before thanking everyone again.

The 68^th annual Tullahoma Christmas Parade, sponsored by Stan McNabb Automotive, will take to the streets of downtown Tullahoma Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. The chamber will hold the 2024 Grand Marshal Reception on Thursday, Dec. 5, along with the lighting of the Tullahoma Christmas tree. For more information on how to enter this year’s parade, contact the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce at 931-455-5497 or visit Tullahoma.org