Local Comm'l Realtor Brian Russell In Rose Parade With Rotary Int'l Float, Volunteer LB Mounted Police Part of Rose Parade Near-Grand Finale

(Jan. 2, 2012, 5:55 p.m., updated 7:10 p.m.) -- Long Beach commercial realtor Brian Russell had a visible marching role as part of Rotary International's prize winning ("Princesses' Trophy") float, and LB's all-volunteer ceremonial Mounted Police unit led the near-Grand Finale in today's Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Mr. Russell (VP Coldwell Banker Commercial BLAIR WESTMAC and a very active Rotarian) indicated on Facebook that he'd be marching along the parade route and would be on the left side the Rotary Int'l float. [Yikes, that's the side away from most of KTLA/5's cameras.]

We caught a glimpse of Mr. Russell at 9:06 (photo right enlarged from screen save) on the KTLA/5 VIDEO clip below (shows Rotary Int'l float from 7:52-9:25 -- click the image right or click here.

Fortunately, Justin Rudd and Ralph Millero were along the parade route in the stands and Mr. Rudd captured this clear shot, shared on Facebook:

Photo source: Justin Rudd Facebook page

Update: Mr. Russell's after-parade comments to LBReport.com: "I had a blast! A terrific experience." [end update]

Viewers of the KTLA/5's telecast/webcast got lengthy, terrific views (from multiple camera angles) of LB's volunteeer Mounted Police (video link below). The ceremonial unit has been been part of the Tournament of Roses Parades since 1948.

This year, the LB Mounted Police were near the end of the Parade as part of its near-Grand Finale: a tribute to Roy Rogers (who would have turned 100 years old in November 2011). The Roy Rogers float was ceremonially led by riders on 100 Golden Palominos carrying American flags...which included LB's Mounted Police (riders wearing blue outfits at the front of the equestrians) visible at length from 9:50 - 13:02 in the KTLA/5 video clip. To view VIDEO, click here.

(Others in the collective equestrian display included Al Malaikah Temple Silver Mounted Patrol, Kings County Sheriff's Posse, Merced County Sheriff's Posse, RFD TV Roy Rogers Riders, Santa Rosa Palomino Club and US Marshal's Posse.)

As previously reported by LBReport.com, the City of Long Beach didn't have a costly taxpayer-paid float in this year's parade. That practice ended, prompted by fiscal realities, with what we believe was LB's final Rose Parade float on Jan. 1, 2009 (just weeks after the Wall Street financial meltdown that ushered in the Great Recession). LB's entry that year carried the ill-timed theme "Renaissance Revival" and celebrated the 100th anniversary of LB's Municipal Band. [Since then, the LB City Council has shrunk the Band's schedule and we have no idea what 2012 portends for the Band.]

The City of LB's 2009 float was the city's 92nd consecutive float entry in the Rose Parade. Costs -- including hiring a professional float building firm -- were in an annual Council budget item (itemized for many years; our recollection: roughly $115,000 about 2005). Some cities raise sums for their Rose Parade entry through volunteer fundraising...and some use volunteer built (not professionally constructed) floats.

KTLA/5 provided online coverage on www.KTLA.com, first simulcasting on air and online live and then swiftly offering on-demand website access. KTLA/5's coverage featured co-hosts Stephanie Edwards and Bob Eubanks (they first teamed in 1982) along with news anchor Micah Ohlman in the stands. [Comment: Truly superlative work online and on-air by KTLA/5].