Bill Neighbors Named Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal

Bill Neighbors personifies the Spirit of Watsonville.

That's what the committee for the city's annual Fourth of July parade decided when they named Neighbors grand marshal of the Spirit of Watsonville parade.

“Bill has traditionally volunteered to be the driver for the Grand Marshal during the parade but this year he will have to take the back seat," committee member and local businessman Dan Carillo said.

behind the wheel for last year's parade, where Mas and Marcia Hashimoto were the grand marshals.

Neighbors and his wife, Virgie, have lived in Watsonville for more than 43 years. He came to Watsonville after serving the U.S. Army at Fort Ord and went to work for Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

He also started giving back to the community. Neighbors has served on many commissions and boards such as Watsonville Planning Commission, Santa Cruz County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Watsonville Police Assistant Fund, Watsonville PAL, Santa Cruz County Mobile Home, the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce , Watsonville Fly-In and Air Show, Watsonville Police Volunteer and a member of the Watsonville Post Incident Team (PIT), the Watsonville Veteran’s Day Committee, Watsonville Rotary Club and the YMCA.

As the Co-Founder of the Watsonville National Night Out, Bill continues to work with Watsonville Police Department and Watsonville Parks and Community Services each year to ensure the event continues for the community.

In 2008 Bill was awarded the Santa Cruz County Volunteer of the Year and in 2009 he was recognized as the Pajaro Valley Chamber Man of the Year 2009.

The hometown parade welcomes car clubs, tractors, fire engines, antique cars, local nonprofits, equestrian units and the Watsonville Community Band. It marches from St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4.

“We anticipate more than 50 entries this year and expect thousands of people to again line the parade route on Main Street,” said Doug Mattos, City of Watsonville’s Senior Administrative Analyst. “This is a wonderful multi-cultural tradition in Watsonville. It’s a fun, inspiring way to get into a patriotic mood.”

Parade applications are now available to download at www.spiritofwatsonville.com.