The Grand Marshal for 2005 was
Ralph Laughlin
Read bio

Community Service Award Winner
Jacquie Williams-Courtright

The Theme of the parade is the Rodeo, as always.
This year we are planning to honor our active military and recent veterans.
Any local active military or recent (Desert Storm to current) who would like to be in the Parade are invited.
They can contact Ray Gilmore (925) 373-0489, or Marilyn Carter (925) 447-6221.

Click on the links for photos

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Numbers 1 to 60 must be in line by 9:30am
Numbers 61 and up must be in line by 10:30am

(There are not entries in all categories)

NC = Non-Competitive (not judged)

General Sweepstakes – Trophy

Equestrian Sweepstakes – Trophy

The California State Horsemen Association Riles will apply to all mounted entries. California Drum and Drill Rules apply to all marching units. American Legion competitive flag code will apply to all color guards and/or flag lines. Parade sanctioned by Parade Sponsors of Northern California, Inc.

Parade Committee reserves the right to refuse any entrant’s parade participation.

Ralph Laughlin is a life long native of Livermore, having six generations of his family live in this Valley. Both sides of his family were involved in agriculture: farming, hay baling, raising sheep and cattle. Many members of his family participated in the Livermore Rodeo in the early years. He has many fond memories of helping both his grandmothers with ranch chores and his uncle with the sheep herding, marking lambs and shearing.

He attended Fifth Street Elementary School, Junction Avenue School and then with the influx of people to our Valley in the 5O's, seventh and eighth grades were held at the former Navy Base now the site of LLNL. He graduated from Livermore High with the class of 1957. He participated in football making varsity as a sophomore. He enjoyed Court tennis and table tennis and was accomplished at both.

While in school he worked for the Alameda County Fire Department and the Alameda County Fair. Upon graduation he went to work for General Electric Atomic Research, where he toured Ronald Regan through the Vallecitos Laboratory and prizes his signed photo with the later President of the United States. He served as the ex-officio social chair of Vallecitos, planing many parties, dances, bus trips for fellow workers. In 1964 he left the nuclear Industry to pursue a career in Real Estate.

He started with Eldred Chance Realty and then worked with John Regan Real Estate before moving to Allied Brokers. He opened Ralph Laughlin & Associates in 1990, and remained in business until his untimely retirement in 2003. He was passionate about his work and enjoyed the challenge of putting a piece of property through the County. He was creative in business, developing a Cluster concept, to preserve open space and maximize land density. He knew rural Alameda, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara counties by heart. He could recognize properties by verbal description, owners, former owners, or looking at a topographical map.

An avid outdoorsman, some of his earliest memories are of going to Pine Ridge with his family. He enjoys all kinds of shooting sports, big game, upland birds, and water fowl, as well as clay sports, especially trap shooting. Enjoying membership in Blackbird Lodge, Red Mountain Ranch, and Mayberry Farms, gave him ample opportunity to spend time outdoors.

Ralph has always been involved in civic and community organizations. He was a Charter member of the Livermore Elks, supporter of the Alameda County Farm Bureau, Alameda Contra Costa Cattlemen and the Alameda County Cattlewomen, active member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, he was one of the five that started the Livermore-P1easanton Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation, Lifetime member of the One Hundred Club, NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, and the Livermore Pleasanton Rod and Gun, past president of the Alameda County Property Owners, and the Livermore Stockmen's Rodeo Association.

He served on the board of Directors of the Livermore Rodeo from 1981 to 1990, and as a past director 2003. He worked in many capacities, including Secretary, and President, and chairman of various committees, program, fence and chute signs, announcing booth workers lunch, LARPD liaison, but is best known as the Father of the Rodeo Mixer. LSRA has long been a member of the Livermore Chamber of Commerce, and Ralph convinced the Board that it would be a great idea to host the Chamber mixer at the Rodeo grounds, serve BBQ beef Sandwiches and invite the business community to see from the inside out, what a rodeo was all about. Dominic Genco suggested they get the local business people to participate in a greenhorn team penning and the rest is history. Ralph was always eager to accept any opportunity to put a microphone in his hand, be it Serving as announcer for the team penning, LSRA queen contest, Mule Deer banquets, or any family event such as wedding, parties or eulogist at funerals.

Ralph's never happier than helping friends and family and is especially devoted to his mother Sara, wife Kathryn, son and daughter in law Steve and Denise and being “Pop” to granddaughters Bailey and Morgan Laughlin.

Parade entry forms can be be obtained:

Online in PDF Format:
Here on this site by clicking here
or on the Livermore Rotary Site

In paper format at:
The Chamber of Commerce (2157 1st St)
Livermore Downtown Association (2060 2nd St)
Baughman's Western Wear (2029 1st St)

or by contacting the parade coordinator:
Ray Gilmore - (925) 373-0489
email: livermoreparade@yahoo.com

Send comments and suggestions to:  webservant@elivermore.com