2019 Grand Mashal Award

Grand Marshal Award – Sharon & Gary Lindgren

The Grand Marshal Award recognizes a person or people of local or national prominence who have made a significant contribution to the development, history, or success of the festival.  The North Iowa Band Festival Committee is pleased to announce Gary and Sharon Lindgren as the 2019 award recipients.

The Lindgrens have been involved in Band Festival for more than 30 years. It was easy for them to recall their first involvement—which was in 1986, the only year the festival was held during September.  The change was made in an attempt to recruit more high school bands to participate in the marching competition. Sharon vividly remembers her role in chaperoning the festival queens (there were no kings in those days!) during their interviews and luncheon. She has also served as a royalty judge, a task she found to be particularly delightful.  When Sharon served on the Chamber staff, she continued her responsibilities with the royalty, as well as handling all of the details for the concession vendors.

Gary is a long-time member of the River City Kiwanis Club and has served food at the club’s Band Festival concession booth for many years. Gary has volunteered in a variety of capacities with the festival from directing the floats and marching bands at the beginning of the parade to lining up the convertibles for the honorees. He has also served as a float judge for the parade.  Gary loves the festival—no matter where it is celebrated.  His involvement dates back to the days when the festival was held Downtown, when it was moved to the picturesque East Park, and back to its current location in Downtown Mason City. He believes the key to the festival’s longevity is the committee’s willingness to try new things, while at the same time holding on to time-honored traditions.

The Lindgrens have been happily married for more than 50 years. They have a son, Brian, and a daughter, Julie, who are graduates of Iowa State University, and are the proud grandparents of Kristin, Kate, and Garrett. They are passionate about Mason City and do their best to share their love for the committee by serving as volunteers for numerous community initiatives. Most importantly, they are gratified to see Mason City’s rich musical heritage embraced by their family.

Congratulations to Gary and Sharon on this well-deserved recognition!

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