Grand Marshals

From actors and comedians to Olympic medalists and community leaders, the Swallows Day Parade has had a variety of people serve as Grand Marshal.

A timeline of past and current Swallows Day Parade Grand Marshals

2025 Grand Marshal
Kathy Homan

Kathy has always had a soft spot for horses that no one else can work with, or horses that still had the heart and will to work, but were not able to meet performance horse standards. “My love for horses has been in my heart for as long as I can remember. As a young child, I’d go to my Aunt’s house and groom the “picture ponies” who lived next door to her. I’d spend hours brushing and cleaning the pony’s just for the chance to be close to them. Later, I hung around the local stables, offering to clean stalls, brush the horses, or feed- anything to be around them.”

Kathy cared for “Cheyenne” a 30-year-old retired roping horse. “Some said he’d seen better days, but I didn’t agree. I never got to ride him, but he lived out his final days knowing he was loved.” Her reputation as a kid that could train anything started to spread, and with that came a long string of horses that were deemed dangerous.

Kathy found that she had a natural talent for training rogue, misunderstood horses. She took in horses that their owners thought were too high strung, used up, or slightly lame and gave them a reason to live. It was more than just a hobby. John, her husband called it a crusade. “The secret to their rehabilitation is to give them a job, lots of love, and brush them till they shine – then they will work their heart out for you.”

Kathy and John established Otra Mas in 2013 out of the satisfaction gained from bringing horses back to mental and physical health. Otra Mas provides shelter, rehabilitation and training for serviceably-sound horses. Our goal is to pave a smooth road for these horses and provide a safe haven so that they do not suffer in their later years.

Kathy has been the owner and operator of Ortega Equestrian Center since 1980.

1960 Barbara Stanwyck,
Audie Murphy

1961 Scotty Clayson
(Buffalo Bill’s Sidekick)

1962 John Rovick
(Sheriff John)

1963 Buddy Ebsen
(actor)

1964 Claude Akins
(actor)

1965 Monty Montana
(actor)

1966 James Drury
(The Virginian)

1967 Gary Vinson
(actor)

1968 Richard Arlen
(actor)

1969 George Putnam
President Richard M. Nixon

1970 Buck Taylor
(actor)

1971 Roberta Lynn
(Champagne Lady)

1972 Bill Skiles, Pete Henderson,
Jimmy Rogers

1973 Andy Devine
(actor)

1974 Jeanette Nolan
(Dirty Sally)

1975 Brad Gates
(OC Sheriff)

1976 Monty Montana
(actor)

1977 Jock Mahoney
(actor)

1978 Iron Eyes Cody
(actor

1979 Richard O’Neill,
Alice Avery

1980 Leon Rene
(Composer)

1981 Pat O’Malley
(actor)

1982 C. Fulton Shaw
(local Celebrity)

1983 Tony Moiso
(Rancho Mission Viejo)

1984 Brian Goodell
(Olympic gold medalist)

1985 Monsignor
Paul Martin

1986 Carl Bucheim
(San Juan’s first Mayor)

1987 Dan Haggerty
(actor)

1988 Todd Hart
(Attorney)

1989 Rusty Richards
(actor/horse trainer)

1990 Peter Sherayko
(actor)

1991 Shelley Taylor Morgan
(actress)

1992 Larry Bucheim
(SJC City Councilman)

1993 Tony Forster
(SJC Mayor)

1994 Teeter Marie
Oliveras Romero

1995 Gilbert G. Aguirre
(Local Rancher)

1996 George Avila
(Local Historian)

1997 Bill and
Pat Bathgate

1998 John and
Marie Lacouague

1999 Elarion M. “Larry”
Hernandez

2000 Joan
Irvine Smith

2001 Melvin M.
Rosenbaum

2002 Bill Webb, Julian Ramos, Pat Forster,
Tom Hribar,William Zintl

2003 Monsignor
Paul Martin

2004 Paul and
Betty Valenzuela

2005 Shigeru “Shig” and
Miyeko Kinoshita

2006 Gary and
Collene Campbell

2007 Millie and
Gil Jones

2008
Kay Shaw

2009
Melitas Forster

2010
Wyatt Hart

2011 Arturo and
Maria Galindo

2012 Bill and
Joan Cvengros

2013
Joe Soto

2014
Jim Curwood

2015
Ricardo Beas

2016
Sam Allevato

2017
Steve Nordeck

2018
Steve Oedekerk

2019
Silvia Mazzeo Pule

2020 Scott and Diana Schmitt
(Cancelled due to COVID)

2021 Scott and Diana Schmitt
( Cancelled due to COVID)

2022 Scott and
Diana Schmitt 

2023 Robert and
Hillary Ridland

2024
Matt Gaffney

2025
Kathy Homan

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