Oakland University
Thursday, December 4, 2008

OU alumnus to lead Rochester Christmas Parade

Oakland University cheerleaders show their holiday spirit during the 2007 Rochester Christmas Parade.
By Dawn Pauli, staff writer


“Christmas Around the World” will be on display as the theme of this year’s Rochester Christmas Parade, which begins at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. For the fifth year, Oakland University will participate in the popular parade, televised live on WXYZ-TV Channel 7.

Members of OU’s Alpha Phi Omega, a national coed service fraternity, will carry the Oakland University banner, with OU cheerleaders and Images Dance Team marching alongside an OU vehicle. Leading the parade as grand marshal will be OU charter class graduate Tom Werth (CAS ’63). A lifelong Rochester resident, Werth also is a former Rochester mayor and longtime councilman.

“We are honored that one of our own, Tom Werth, was chosen to be such a special part of the parade,” said Susan Davies Goepp, vice president for University Relations and executive director of the Oakland University Foundation. “The parade is a great tradition for the city of Rochester and has become an OU tradition, too.”

Now in its 57th year, the parade will feature high school marching bands, floats and Santa Claus. The parade route begins at the corner of Rochester and Tienken, and continues along Main Street to Third Street.

A free shuttle is sponsored by Chase Bank. Parade attendees can park at the Chase branch located at 1290 Walton Blvd. and will be dropped off at the Chase branch in downtown Rochester. The shuttle will run from 12:15-4:30 p.m.

The parade is organized by the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, a proud partner of Oakland University.
For the fifth year, Oakland University will participate in the popular parade, which begins at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7., in downtown Rochester.

Created by David Groves (groves@oakland.edu) on Thursday, December 4, 2008
Modified by David Groves (groves@oakland.edu) on Thursday, December 4, 2008
Article Start Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008