Sewanee’s Fourth of July Parade Committee is proud to announce that John and Bonnie Green are the Grand Marshals for 2019.

John and Bonnie were both born at the old Emerald Hodgson Hospital.

Bonnie’s parents left the Mountain for Chicago, where she was raised until eighth grade. She returned to Sewanee to attend eighth grade and high school. The couple met at Franklin County High School and were married in 1958, their senior year. They moved to Chicago but returned to Sewanee after a year. John was the produce/delivery man at the University Supply Store until 1969. He was the first Little League coach in Sewanee. Bonnie worked at Emerald Hodgson Hospital in medical records before taking a position with the College Board.

In 1969, the College Board moved from Sewanee to Atlanta, and John and Bonnie followed them there. John worked at Overnite Transportation until his retirement in 1997. Bonnie worked with the College Board until her retirement in 1995.

The couple loves to travel, especially to sporting events of their children and now grandchildren, and did so extensively for three years before returning to live in Sewanee in 2000.

Bonnie and John pride themselves on their volunteer work. Bonnie worked on the opening show of the 1994 Super Bowl in Atlanta, when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills. She was offered a paid position with the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta but chose to volunteer instead. She worked the opening and closing ceremonies in the costume department and still gets chill bumps when describing the experience. She is currently the treasurer at the Sewanee Senior Center and Golden Heights Apartments in Winchester. She also volunteers with Almost Home in Winchester. John is the go-to person if you need help with anything. They are both members of New Beginnings Church in Monteagle.

The Greens have attended every Independence Day celebration in Sewanee from its inception 34 years ago, except for one summer they spent in Alaska. They were in charge of decorating the leaseholders’ float for 15 years. Bonnie has held several volunteer positions with the Fourth of July Committee over the years.

We are honored to have them as the 2019 Grand Marshals. Please join us on Thursday, July 4, to celebrate Bonnie and John, two of Sewanee’s finest!