Parade Grand Marshals Have Deep Ties To Homecoming Celebration

The grand marshals for the 2025 Glenwood Homecoming Parade have strong and long-lasting ties to the event that’s near and dear to their hearts.

Larry and Karen Lincoln’s story is one of love, dedication and community spirit.

High school sweethearts who married soon after graduation, they will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary this December. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work, raising two children—Amy and Alan—while running their family farming operation in Pacific Junction.

Larry’s journey to Glenwood High School began after graduating from Bethlehem Country School in the eighth grade. Karen’s Glenwood story began even earlier, when she started kindergarten in the basement of the First Congregational Church.

Both went on to attend Glenwood Elementary and High School, proudly graduating with the Class of 1967.

When their daughter Amy joined the band in fifth grade - followed later by their son Alan - Larry and Karen became active members of the Glenwood Band Parents organization. They quickly stepped up to volunteer at events such as the

Homecoming Coronation and Dance, and their service to Glenwood music and traditions only grew from there.

In 1995, Larry joined the Homecoming Parade Committee as a parade lineup volunteer, eventually becoming chair of “Team Homecoming.” Karen followed in his footsteps, joining as a volunteer in 2000 after Alan’s graduation. For nearly three decades, the Lincolns have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that Homecoming—one of Glenwood’s most beloved traditions—remained a source of pride and joy for the community.

The Lincoln family’s ties to Glenwood Homecoming run deep. As a senior in 1967, Larry was honored as part of the Coronation Court, serving as a Homecoming King candidate—a memory that began his lifelong connection to this tradition.

Karen’s family also helped shape Glenwood’s Homecoming legacy. Her father, Ross Garrett, was Glenwood’s very first Homecoming King in 1937, and years later, her brother brought smiles to the community when he played the minister in a playful “mock wedding” staged on a local floral shop float.

Together, Larry and Karen carried this legacy forward, cherishing the chance to watch their own children participate in the band and Homecoming events. Today, they find joy in seeing their grandchildren create memories of their own. With such rich connections spanning multiple generations, it’s no surprise that Larry and Karen poured so much of themselves into preserving and celebrating this cherished community tradition.

Following Homecoming 2024, Larry and Karen made the heartfelt decision to retire from their committee roles. They expressed their gratitude to all who have supported the homecoming parade throughout the years, especially the dedicated “Team Homecoming” volunteers who helped bring the event to life year after year.

They also wish to emphasize that they could not have accomplished this for so many years without the incredible support of the many volunteers, the parents who constructed floats, the schools and teachers who displayed such team spirit, the parade team, city officials, and their own family members whose encouragement made it all possible.

“Larry and Karen Lincoln embody what it means to give back,” said Glenwood Homecoming Parade Co-chair Holly Jackson. “As long-time supporters of Glenwood Bands, the Glenwood Band Parents, and Glenwood’s cherished Homecoming, they have left an indelible mark on both the school and the wider community. Their dedication reminds us that traditions thrive when families, neighbors, and friends come together to carry them forward.

“It is with deep appreciation that we honor Larry and Karen Lincoln—not only for their many years of service but also for the love, commitment, and example they have shared with us all.”