Massive Homecoming Celebration on Saturday

The Everett School Committee and its Homecoming organizers have finalized plans for Saturday’s daylong festivities, highlighted by an extravagant parade and culminating in a football game between the Crimson Tide and Central Catholic (5 p.m.).

The 2015 Everett High School Homecoming Parade will step off from Glendale Park on Ferry Street at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 3. The massive parade line up features more than 100 marching bands, groups, entertainers, military personnel, and organizations. As usual, the parade will feature an entire unit made up of the always-entertaining Aleppo Shriners. Popular children’s entertainer Johnny the K will provide pre-parade entertainment in Everett Square beginning at 11 a.m.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the football game inside Veterans’ Memorial Stadium, where a special dedication will be held in honor of the late Dan Ross. A member of the EHS Class of 1975, Ross was a star at Northeastern University and a 2004 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. A second-round pick (30th overall) by Cincinnati in 1979, Ross had a stellar career for the Bengals, as well as a member of the USFL. In 1982, he helped lead the Bengals to Super Bowl XVI in New Orleans, catching 11 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns in an eventual loss to San Francisco. His 11 receptions stood as a Super Bowl record until 2014.

Saturday’s pre-game ceremony will be highlighted by the dedication of “Dan Ross Way,” along the area where the Crimson Tide enter the stadium. Also, Dan Ross’s wife, Joan, and his coach at Northeastern, Robert “Bo” Lyons, will travel together along the parade route.

Fans arriving early will be treated to the musical entertainment of Billy D and the Rock-its, who will sing some of the biggest doo wop hits from the 1950s beginning at 2:00 p.m.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Jack McGrath, a beloved and much admired figure on the Everett sports scene. For 25 years, Jack has been involved with Everett’s sports television. In the early 90s, Bob Caramanica and Jack did the TV broadcast of the Everett High School football and basketball games.  Student and adult athletes were interviewed over the years on Channels 3 or 15.   Presently, the TV show is known as Sports Experience on Channel 3.  Some of the youthful interviewers have been Lukas Denis, Justin Johnson, Talia Mirra, Sydnee Bessler and Nicole Sylvester.

Jack is a Boston College graduate.  He helped lead the 1953 Eagles baseball team to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The Eagles defeated Houston in a game that saw Jack steal home. They also defeated Duke before being eliminated by Lafayette.

For 32 years, Jack was a probation officer at the Woburn District Court, including 10 years as the Assistant Chief P.O. He also had brief teaching stints at Catholic Memorial, Boston Latin, and Everett High School.

Jack is a lifetime resident of Everett, except for the nine years he was a Jesuit Seminarian.  Three of those years were spent in Jamaica and the West Indies as a teacher and a soccer, track, and cricket coach.

This 2015 Homecoming King and Queen are Sollon Damasceno and Morgan Peloquin. The Court is comprised of Victoria Angel, Erin Callinan, Monica Funez, and Annie Pierreville.

Once again, Homecoming Day will begin with a breakfast hosted by the Everett High School PTO from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in the Everett High School cafeteria. The all-you-can-eat breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, muffins, bagels, juice and coffee. Tickets are $5 per person and available at the door. Proceeds benefit the Everett High PTO. Guests are encouraged to drive to the main entrance of the high school, and handicap parking is available.

In addition, the annual “Homecoming Hustle” will be held at 8:30 a.m. The 5K run is sponsored entirely by Schnitzer Northeast, and all proceeds benefit Friends Fighting Breast Cancer, an organization made up entirely of EPS personnel. Participants should report to the Everett R

The 2015 Homecoming King and Queen and Court — From left: Member of the Court Victoia Angel, EHS Principal Erick Naumann, member of the Court Annie Pierreville, King Sollon Damasceno, Superintendent of Schools Frederick F. Foresteire, Queen Morgan Peloquin, member of the Court Erin Callinan, Acting Submaster Christopher Barrett, and member of the Court Monica Funez.

The 2015 Homecoming King and Queen and Court — From left: Member of the Court Victoia Angel, EHS Principal Erick Naumann, member of the Court Annie Pierreville, King Sollon Damasceno, Superintendent of Schools Frederick F. Foresteire, Queen Morgan Peloquin, member of the Court Erin Callinan, Acting Submaster Christopher Barrett, and member of the Court Monica Funez.

ecreation Center at 7:30 a.m. to register. The race will start at 8:30 a.m. on Elm Street. The registration fee is $15 in advance, $20 the day of the race. The route takes runners and walkers from Elm Street to Ferry Street, Glendale Square, Broadway, Fuller Street, Washington Avenue and back to Glendale Park on Elm Street.

The “Homecoming Hustle” is held in memory of Janet Connolly O’Neill, former assistant principal of the Webster School, and Anthony M. Malione and Peter J. Dolan, former assistant superintendents.

In case of rain, the parade will be held on Sunday, October 4 at 1 p.m., followed by the game at 4 p.m. The breakfast and “Homecoming Hustle” will be held on Saturday, October 3 rain or shine.

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