Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner selected a legendary East Aurora family to serve as grand marshals for this year’s Fourth of July parade. Henry Cowherd, the namesake for Cowherd Middle School, and his wife, Carolyn Cowherd, will lead the parade.

Several East Aurora organizations and individuals will also be involved. The Tomcat Wrestling Club, Tomcat Youth Tackle Football, and the East Aurora summer band camp — which all draw students from multiple East Aurora schools — will walk in the parade.

Barbetta Neil, a special education assistant at the East Aurora Extension campus, will sing the national anthem.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. from the Santori Public Library of Aurora, 101 S. River Street and travels through downtown Aurora. More information about the parade, the route, and Aurora fireworks can be found here.

About Carolyn and Henry Cowherd

Henry Cowherd, 91, was raised on the East Side of Aurora. In 1945, he graduated from East Aurora High School, where he was a member of Student Council, Boys Club, Hi-Y Club and a three-sport athlete. After high school, Henry Cowherd worked at Burgess Norton Co., for 34 years.

Carolyn Cowherd, 90, worked at a local printing company and was a longtime volunteer at Rush-Copley Hospital. She met her future husband as he was coaching softball. They married in 1947.

Henry Cowherd was the first African-American elected to the Board of Education and served 13 years on the Board. He has been a member of the East Aurora Dad’s Club, East Aurora Parent’s Association, East Aurora Sports Boosters, Aurora East Educational Foundation and the East Aurora Old Timers Association.

In 1991, the Board of Education unanimously voted to name the District’s third middle school after Henry Cowherd.

Henry and Carolyn Cowherd continue to be a fixture at East Aurora events, regularly attending ceremonies, meetings and sporting events.

SOURCE: East Aurora School District 131 press release