Collinsville’s 50th Annual Pioneer Day parade drew in a huge crowd Saturday, Sept. 21 with excited spectators from the Grayson County area. The procession was led by local veterans and volunteers presenting the colors of the United State Armed Forces.
THE HONOR GUARD
Honorably carrying the United States, Texas and military branch flags in the parade were eight proud locals.
“We wanted to honor our veterans as well as our active-duty personnel,” parade organizer Gigi Cox said. “I feel like we did that well.”
Presenting the U.S. flag was Liam Baker, Scoutmaster of Troop 45 and Collinsville Elementary School teacher. He is also an avid hiker, trekking over 1,500 miles in six different states.
Following Baker with the Texas flag was Joe Munoz. Also a teacher at Collinsville Elementary School, Munoz was involved in scouting for 11 years with Collinsville’s Troop 432. His son, Zeke Munoz, obtained the rank of Eagle Scout a few years ago.
Carrying the United States Army flag was 2nd Lieutenant Margaret Denning. In her eighth year of service, she is currently the Executive Officer of Delta Company 156 Brigade Engineer Battalion in the Texas Army National Guard. Denning graduated from Military Intelligence School in March of 2024. She is a graduate of Tarleton State University and is also a proud Collinsville Pirate, having graduated from Collinsville High School in 2017. When not in uniform, she teaches sixth grade social studies at Garland ISD.
Proudly holding the U.S. Navy flag was retired Lieutenant Christopher Chance. He spent 15 years in the Navy and is a Desert Storm veteran, serving from 1982-1997.
Chance was a former Naval Officer Intelligence Specialist on the USS Fox CG-33 and the USS Newport Lst-1179 during Desert Storm, providing intel support from the Mediterranean Ocean. Chance also spent time at duty stations Little Creek Naval Base and the Naval Criminal Investigative Services Office in Quantico, Virginia.
Corporal Matthew “Dak” McElhannon carried the Marine Corps. flag. He served in the USMC from 2013-2021 before being honorably discharged. He was meritoriously promoted through each rank and was active for six years and two years reserve. McElhannon was an 0111 Admin and logistics specialist, with expert rifle and pistol qualifications. He served in Latvia, South Korea and Germany.
Alli Miller, U.S. Air Force veteran, stood tall with the U.S. Air Force flag. She served for 11.5 years. Miller started her Air Force career as an active-duty airman at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio where she worked at Wright Patterson Medical Center. She later became a reservist with the 433rd Air Evacuation Squadron in San Antonio.
Volunteering to carry the flag of our newest military branch, Space Force, was Haley Cox Brown. Brown graduated from Collinsville High School in 2005 and now teaches first graders at Collinsville Elementary School in her space-themed classroom.
Following Brown with the U.S. Coast Guard flag was Robert Miller. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a mechanic on the USCG Polar Sea. He was stationed in Seattle, Washington.
GRAND MARSHALS
Collinsville Junior High cheerleaders followed behind the Honor Guard and carried the banner ushering the Grand Marshals of the 50th Pioneer Day Parade. This year, three remarkable ladies with deep roots in the community were honored as Grand Marshals.
LaVerne Hutton Walden has lived in Collinsville her whole life, ever since her family settled east of town where she was born 91 years ago. She has watched the town and community grow and go through many changes.
Doris Ann Rector King was born in the Macomb community and raised in Collinsville. She taught at Collinsville ISD for 19 of her 44 years in education. She oversaw food donations and helped serve 1,000 free BBQ dinners at the first Collinsville Pioneer Day celebration in 1975.
Betty Graham Baker rounded out the trio of Grand Marshals. She was born in Collinsville 91 years ago. Baker graduated in 1950 and has seventh-generation great-grandchildren in school at Collinsville. According to Baker, Collinsville is a great small town to retire in.
“Our community greatly appreciates these ladies,” Cox said. “Their caring, generous, and kind hearts are a blessing to us all.”
The Honor Guard and Grand Marshals led the way for a creative array of float entries.
PARADE FLOAT WINNERS
“We had many smiling parade participants show off their creative floats in celebration of ‘50 years of Pioneers,’” Cox said.
Entrants were judged and the top three floats won a trophy and cash prizes. Coming in first place of the float contest was Kari’s Cuts and Curls. Owned and operated by Kari Bishop in Collinsville, this local business offers hair, pedicure and tanning services for men, women and children. Kari’s striking float was decorated with an authentic pioneer look. She wore a vintage gown while riding on hay bales next to a “campfire,” kettle, wagon and old water tower.
In second place was “Collinsville’s Future Pioneers” at The Play House. According to owner Marva Worsham, The Play House has been a safe place for kids to grow in Collinsville since 1979. This daycare’s little ones rode on a cute, seated float with big alphabet letters and colorful streamers.
Keep Collinsville Beautiful came in third place with their patriotic red, white and blue bannered float. Keep Collinsville Beautiful is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose volunteers have improved the livability and appearance of the community for the past 13 years.
Congratulations to all the parade float winners and everyone who participated.
Other honorable parade participants included Collinsville’s Fire and Police Departments, Whitesboro’s Fire and Police Departments, Tioga’s Fire and Police Departments and The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office. The Collinsville High School Cheerleaders brought Pirate spirit to the parade along with the Mighty Pirate band and 2024 CHS Homecoming Royalty Kaleb Monk and Caelyn Scott.
Also spotted in the parade was Collinsville’s infamous Wayne “Red” McCorkle, future Grayson County Commissioner Pct. 3 Lindsay Wright with her horse and wagon, CFM Septic, Mental Drive Inc., Frank’s Towing, Bo Mows and the Cox family.
Mikayla Reed is a journalism student at the University of North Texas. She is a native of Collinsville and a graduate of Tioga High School.