Page 32 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2018

PEOPLE the luck of the irish
CELEBRATES WITH
40th
St. Patrick’s Parade
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy Hibernia Marching Society
March 17 is always a big day for the Irish and the
The Hibernia Marching Society (HMS), but this
year is bigger than usual as the group celebrates
their 40th St. Patrick Day Parade. Set for March 17,
the parade begins at 2 p.m. at the Biloxi Yacht Club
and navigates the downtown streets of Biloxi. This
year’s Colleen is Kathryn Winter and the Grand Marshal is Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich.
Three football greats will serve as parade, making it the longest parade
levels of community involvement for more than a hundred years in Biloxi. He earned a mathematics degree from the University of Houston and entered the computer field, working at Control Data Corporation and Johnson Space Center in Houston, before returning home in 1972. He was elected mayor in 2015.
Kathryn Lindsay Winter is the daughter of Karl and Gaye Winter. She was born and raised in Biloxi and has an Irish heritage that began when her ancestors came from Ireland to New Orleans during the Great Famine.
She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2013 and is a lifetime alumna of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She is a member of the Daughters
of the American Revolution-Biloxi Chapter, Biloxi Yacht Club and Les Masquees. Currently, Kathryn writes for several publications throughout the state.
celebrity parade judges, including Reggie Collier, John Fourcade, and Sammy Winder. They will be joined
by locals Al Jones, Toni Miles, and this writer. After the parade, trophies will be awarded in several categories at the Yacht Club around 4 p.m.
On parade day, the Hibernia Marching Society and Gulf Coast Running Club will host the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K and one-mile run- walk in front of Biloxi City Hall at 9 a.m. with pre-registration at 8 a.m.
Hibernia President Mary McCusker points out that the tradition in Ireland was for an older, established man
to help launch a young woman into society, looking out for her marriage prospects. “We continue that tradition each year with our Grand Marshal and Colleen,” she said. “This is a special year, and we’ve invited all Coast cities to participate in the
we’ve ever had.”
The parade lined up at the Biloxi
Yacht Club in the early days and that’s why it returns to that starting point this year.
The Hibernia Marching Society was not formally organized until 1978. Prior to this, informal gatherings were held by several Irish Americans at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant. The three men who started HMS were, Dr. John O’Keefe, Clark Shaughnessy and Joe Collins. “They often discussed the idea of organizing a St. Patrick’s Day Parade; however, a wee bit of Irish Blarney tells us that the idea lasted no longer than the last bottle of Bushmill,” McCusker said.
Gilich was born and raised in Biloxi, the son of Andrew M. Gilich Sr. and Jacobina Sekul Gilich. The Gilich family has distinguished itself on all
This year’s Grand Marshal, Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich with Colleen, Kathryn Winter.
Parade Co-Captain Mary McCusker: 228.265.3416 | www.hiberniamarchingsociety.com Registration for run: www.gulfcoastrunningclub.org
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