Parade

Grand Sultan                      Bette Crawford & Lisa Howland (FOCs)
Grand Parade                      Saturday March 4, 2000, Sunny & High of 51 Degrees
Post Grand Parade:             Street Jammin'
Parade Theme                     Music?
Sultan Sub-Theme              Music of the Mississippi (idea from Randy Howland and Mark Moore)
Float                                   Truck & Flatbed
Driver:                                Chuck Crostic
Balls:                                   Banana Ball & Mystic Knights of the Purple Haze
Driver Fat Tuesday:           Chuck
Post Parade Fat Tuesday:   1860 or Joni's?

Those of us that could vote for this years Grand Sultan had a big decision to make. Both Bette and Lisa had been involved in everything! That includes hosting meetings/parties. Expanding the roster to include other family and friends. They would both provide libations the morning of the Grand Parade. Bette would make Hurricanes and Bloody Marys. Lisa would bring Champagne. A few years after this both gals also would get together and present gifts at the judges stand as well. They were both were also FOCs. Given this tough decision and taking in to account the strong personalities of these lovely women the voting members decided to make them both Grand Sultans!

The design of the float was simply to have the Mississippi River with references to famous musicians from St. Louis, to Memphis to New Orleans. Then we had our our true music on the float match that theme as well. It was primarily Blues. Some Rock & Roll and of course some Cajun. We decided to reference Chuck Berry's song "Johnny Be Goode" on the Johnny on the Spot.