(MURFREESBORO) Thanks to a community wide endeavor mixed with temps near 60, the 2019 Murfreesboro Christmas Parade was a tremendous success. it broke records both in attendance as well as entries.

The theme of the Christmas Parade was "The Sounds of Christmas", and you could hear it in everything from bells, music and children's laughter that filled the beautiful day.

Senior Judge Don Ash was the 2019 Grand Marshal. He and his grandchildren had seats of honor as they rode in Tom Collin's 1924 Ford Model-T fire truck.

Ash served as a Circuit Court Judge for Rutherford and Cannon county from 1994-2012. He also taught civil procedure at the Nashville School of law for ten years.

In 2012 the Tennessee Supreme Court appointed Don Ash to the position of Senior Judge for the State of Tennessee. He continues to serve in that capacity.

Congratulations to these winning entries:

• MAYOR'S CUP (Best Overall Entry): Cub Scout Packs 92 and 101
• CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT'S AWARD: Murfreesboro City School
• BEST WALKING ENTRY: Webb School Art Department
• BEST SCOUT ENTRY: Girl Scout's "Around The Christmas Tree" entered by Girl Scout Service Unit 157
• BEST VEHICLE ENTRY: Johnny Hale
• BEST FLOAT (CIVIC ORGANIZATION): "The GR8T CHASE" helping families battling life-limiting illnesses that are in need of hope, compassion, and financial support.
• BEST FLOAT (Church and School): Riverdale FFA
• BEST HORSE ENTRY: Black Magic pulling sulky (this is a percherons breed of horse), owner Michael Huff

Parade Coordinator Lee Ann Walker said, "I want to thank all of the volunteers who worked for months to make the Christmas Parade a success. Their devotion for our community and desire to keep Christmas alive for children shown brightly in 2019's tremendously successful event!"

Walker especially thanked the Murfreesboro Noon Exchange Club, Stones River Amateur Radio Club, ATMOS Energy, Franklin Synergy Bank, along with L&K Trophy House. And especially the staff at WGNS Radio who answered hundreds of questions from participants, while doing the paperwork that makes an event with over a thousand volunteers run smoothly. This was the 34th year that Walker and the Good Neighbor Station have coordinated the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade.

Walker commented, "The success of the Christmas Parade is a joint effort of love by everyone involved--THANK YOU."