A list of the Grand Marshals since 1925

Jessica Cox as 2023 Grand Marshal

Tucson Rodeo Parade Honors Jessica Cox as 2023 Grand Marshal

Tucson, Ariz. (Jan. 26, 2023) Jessica Cox has been named the Grand Marshal for the 98th Tucson Rodeo Parade.  Cox is a native Arizonan, born in Sierra Vista.  She is a University of Arizona graduate who holds several black belts in Taekwondo, is a licensed pilot, author, motivational speaker, and a Guinness World Record Holder.  She created a foundation to advocate for children with disabilities and has been named 2022 Woman of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Awards.  And she has accomplished all this after being born without arms.

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Jessica uses her feet the way most people use their hands. She learned to see the blessings in her life and accept herself as a whole person. Now, Jessica flies airplanes, drives cars, is married, and otherwise lives a normal life.

Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, three flight instructors, and three years to find the right aircraft. In 2008 she earned her certification for light sport pilot, the first for an armless person, and the first person to fly an airplane with her feet.

Her first book, Disarm Your Limits was published in 2015 and chronicles Jessica’s story to live without prosthetic arms, using her feet as other people use their hands.  She is producing a documentary Right Footed, recording Jessica’s journey toward dignity and independence.  She now works as a mentor to children with disabilities and their families, helping them overcome their situations just as her mentor once helped her.

Founded in 2017, the Rightfooted Foundation International was created by Jessica to further her advocacy for children with limb differences and other disabilities around the world.  Through the Foundation, she has produced the YouTube channel Life Without Feet which highlights the unique ways Jessica navigates life without arms.

Jessica is also a motivational speaker featured on TV shows like Ellen, CNN, National Geographic, Fox and Friends, and BBC News, and has spoken to companies such as AT&T, NASA, The Smithsonian, State Farm, and Cisco.

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The Rodeo Parade Committee recognizes Jessica’s power of inspiration and mentorship and her message about how everyone, those with disabilities and those without, can find strength within themselves; and is proud to honor her as the 2023 Parade Grand Marshal.

About the Tucson Rodeo Parade and Committee

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc. is a non-profit organization that plans and organizes the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade and operates the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, a collection of horse-drawn vehicles and Western memorabilia. The 2023 parade will be February 23 at 9 a.m.  For more information about the Tucson Rodeo Parade, visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org or call (520) 294-1280.

2024 - Louise Thomas

2023 - Jessica Cox

2022 - Aida Barnes

2020 - World War II Veterans

2019 - Guy Atchley

2018 - Tucson Conquistadors

2017 - Jeannette Maré

2016- Chandler Warden

2015 - Coach Jerry Kindall

2014 - Dan Marries
2013 - Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly

2012 - Tucson Boys Chorus
2011 - Joel D. Valdez
2010 - Big Jim Griffith
2009 - Mayor Robert E. Walkup
2008 - Humberto Lopez
2007 - Richard H. Carmona. M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S
2006 - Louise Serpa
2005 -Baxter Black
2004 - Mrs. Cele Peterson
2003 - Larry Mahan
2002 - Mike Candrea
2001 - olan Ellis
2000 - Hadley Barrett
1999 - Sons of the Pioneers
1998 - Rex Allen, Jr.
1997 - Don Collier
1996 - Ben Johnson
1995 - Charles Sampson
1994 - Gil Fricker
1993 - Jim Ronstadt
1992 - Burt Humphrey
1991 - Bill West
1990 - Chuck Henson
1989 - Jim Click, Jr.
1988 - Lute Olson
1987 - Governor Rose Mofford
1986 - Bill Breck
1985 - Paul Grimes
1984 - Mayor Lew Murphy
1983 - Frank B. Roe
1982 - Roscoe Christopher
1981 - Kingston J. Smallhouse
1980 - Joe Weinzapfel
1979 - Clinton L. Helbig
1978 - Roy P. Drachman
1977 - Joseph O. Niemann
1976 - Alex G. Jacome
1975 - Harry V. Chambers

[one-half-first]1974 Gene C. Reid
1973 Royal Irving
1972 Brooks Davis
1971 John R. Snider
1970 Ambassador Raul H. Castro
1969 U. S. Senator Carl Hayden
1968 C. Edgar Goyette
1967 Ferd Lauber
1966 George W. Chambers
1965 Fred Blanc
1964 Pete Waggoner
1963 Clarence E. Britten
1962 A. M. (Jake) Meyer
1961 Harry Blacklidge
1960 Dr. Richard Harvill
1959 Frank Putter
1958 Frank Putter
1957 Frank Putter
1956 Ed Echols
1955 Ed Echols
1954 Ed Echols
1953 Ed Echols
1952 Ed Echols
1951 Ed Echols
1950 Frank Putter
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1949 Frank Putter
1948 Frank Putter
1947 Frank Putter
1946 Frank Putter
1945 no Parade – WW II
1944 no Parade – WW II
1943 Frank Putter
1942 Frank Putter
1941 J. C. Jack Kinney
1940 J. C. Jack Kinney
1939 J. C. Jack Kinney
1938 J. C. Jack Kinney
1937 J. C. Jack Kinney
1936 J. C. Jack Kinney
1935 Fred Ginter
1934 J. C. Jack Kinney
1933 J. C. Jack Kinney
1932 J. C. Jack Kinney
1931 J. C. Jack Kinney
1930 J. C. Jack Kinney
1929 American Legion & Pete Waggoner
1928 American Legion & Pete Waggoner
1927 American Legion & Pete Waggoner
1926 American Legion & Pete Waggoner
1925

Lions Club, Kiwanis, Rotary Club & Pete Waggoner

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