Historymakers Bill Shover and Karl Eller continue to be honored

FIESTA BOWL SNAGS ALICE COOPER AS PARADE GRAND MARSHAL Ed Masley Arizona Republic 09/07/2021
USA TODAY NETWORK For the first time in the history of the game, a rock ‘n’ roller has been chosen to serve as a Fiesta Bowl Parade Grand Marshal. Alice Cooper and nine Fiesta Bowl Founders will share the honor when the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe hits Central Phoenix Saturday, Dec. 18. The theme of the parade, which honors the organization’s 50th Anniversary, is “Gold Standard: A Commitment to CommUNITY.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was chosen, as were the founders, because his actions align with the organization’s commitment to driving economic growth, championing charitable causes and executing innovative experiences. Patrick Barkley, the chairman of the board for Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, says, “I think Alice was a natural fit because he’s been such an asset to the community and he’s recognized worldwide.” Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy says many esteemed individuals have served as the parade’s grand marshal through the years. “We’ve had astronauts, teachers, sports stars, a lot of categories,” he says. “What we haven’t had is a rock ‘n’ roll legend. And this year, we’re gonna have a rock ‘n’ roll legend to add to the list.” Cooper was thrilled to be chosen “It’s really funny when you start getting honored by all these different people, you start go- ing, ‘They only do this with really old guys," Cooper says he appreciates the generosity of Fiesta Bowl Charities in helping Phoenix-area teenagers, including Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center, which received a donation of $10,000 from the organization. Cooper has a history of giving back to the community Cooper (then still known as Vincent Furnier) made his first onstage appearance in the Cortez High School “cafetorium” in Phoenix, singing Beatles parodies alongside future bassist Dennis Dunaway and guitarist Glen Buxton. Joined by two other veterans of the Phoenix music scene, guitarist Michael Bruce and drummer Neal Smith, the Alice Cooper group released a string of timeless, influential records in the early ‘70s, including “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out.” By 1973, their theatrical approach to live performance had become so popular, their U.S. tour in support of the chart-topping “Billion Dollar Babies” album broke box-office records then held by the Rolling Stones. Fifty years down the road from breaking through with “I’m Eighteen,” the star lives in Paradise Valley with his wife, Sheryl Cooper, who also sings and dances in his concerts. The couple is known for their charity work with Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock, a faith-based organization whose mission is to make a difference in teens’ lives by offering a safe, engaging environment during non-school hour s at their Solid Rock Teen Center. The Fiesta Bowl is celebrating 50 years of community service Barkley says they decided to honor their founders as grand marshals because of the 50th anniversary. “They’re the ones who started the bowl so we wanted to make sure we recognize them,” Barkley says. “It’s a unique opportunity to honor them.” The Fiesta Bowl Founders were chosen for bringing a college bowl game to the Valley, elevating Arizona to the level of a major player in the sports world. Headed by advertising exec Glenn Hawkins, newspaper public relations director Bill Shover, hotelier Jack Stewart, lawyer Don Meyers, media executive Karl Eller, stockbroker Jim Meyer, Coca-Cola general manager George Taylor, banker George Isbell and accountant Don Dupont, the Founders began their efforts to bring a bowl here in 1968. It took several presentations, but on April 26, 1971, the NCAA Council gave its approval for Arizona to host a bowl game. And with that, the Fiesta Bowl was born. Meyer, Meyers and Shover will represent the Founders on the Parade route. “From the beginning, the Fiesta Bowl Founders’ vision was to create Arizona’s largest and most important community effort in history,” Meyers said in a press release. “Our collaboration and ‘can-do’ spirit were the foundation of the amazing impact Fiesta Bowl has had on and off the field ever since.” For more information about the events or application process and to purchase tickets, visit FiestaBowl.org/parade.