James B. Lawrence will be the grand marshal of the Sheriff’s Rodeo Parade Saturday in Hartselle. | Clif Knight

Saturday parade to go through downtown

James B. Lawrence rode his horse in the Morgan County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse rodeo parade for nearly 50 years.

On Saturday, he will ride in the parade as grand marshal at the request of Sheriff Ana Franklin.

“I was glad to be selected,” said Lawrence, who gave up horseback riding three years ago after taking a fall. “It’s an honor and I’m looking forward to being a part of the parade again.”

The parade will form at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds at 1801 Vest Road Saturday at 11 a.m. It will depart promptly at noon.

Lawrence recalled his close association with the mounted posse since its beginning in 1963. He was one of its founders and served as its first vice president under then-Sheriff Knox McRae. It was his signature and that of two other posse members that was required to close the deal on the 19-acre posse grounds north of Hartselle.

“The posse has been involved in many activities over the years,” Lawrence recalled. “We’ve conducted walking horse shows, patrolled traffic for events, such as the Memorial Day observance at Johnson Chapel Cemetery and the July Fourth Celebration at Point Mallard, and held roadblocks for the CP Telethon and other worthy causes.

“We also had the honor of riding in the Birmingham Veterans Day Parade back in the 1970’s,” he added. “It was special to me because I was riding my favorite horse, son of Ebony Masterpiece, a registered walking horse.”

Lawrence is a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, having served two years in the South Pacific. He was stationed in Okinawa when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan ending the war. After being discharged in 1946, he joined American Legion Post 52 and have been actively involved in it activities for more than 60 years.

Lawrence was employed with South Central Bell for 31 years, retiring in 1983. He was self-employed for several years as a heavy equipment operator.

Lawrence’s love of horses stemmed from his boyhood days on a family farm five miles east of Hartselle.

“I began riding a big ole plow horse when I was about seven,” he recalled, “and I owned and rode horses most of my adult life.”

The parade route is as follows: From the Sheriff’s Posse Grounds onto Vest Road, crossing Highway 31 onto Sparkman Street NW, right onto Main Street, right onto Corsbie Street, right onto Longhorn Pass and then back onto Sparkman Street to Vest Road.

“We’re urging everyone to come out and be a part of the parade,” said Sheriff Ana Franklin. “We’re expecting a large contingent of riders and horses but you don’t have to have a horse to participate.”