Sue and Bob McDowell named grand marshals of St. Charles St. Patrick's Parade

ST. CHARLES – Sue and Bob McDowell, longtime owners of McDowall Remodeling, have been named as the grand marshals of the upcoming St. Patrick's Parade.

The couple have owned McDowell Remodeling for more than 48 years and recently announced their retirement. The St. Charles Business Alliance is honoring the McDowells for their longtime service and dedication to the St. Charles community.

The parade will step off at 2 p.m. March 14 at Main and 6th streets and will continue down Main Street to conclude at 4th Avenue.

Sue McDowell continues to plan the St. Charles Fine Art Show, which is celebrating its 22nd anniversary on Memorial Day Weekend. Like his wife, Bob McDowell has also made numerous contributions to the community, with one of them being building Santa’s House, which visits First Street Plaza beginning on the Holiday Homecoming weekend.

They have also been involved in the following organizations’ events and fundraisers: Lazarus House, St. Charles Heritage Center, Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and St. Charles Business Alliance.

Sue McDowall said she and Bob were honored to learn they were this year’s grand marshals.

”We have been privileged to live in St. Charles and have a business here for over 48 years,” Sue said in a news release from the St. Charles Business Alliance. “We are thrilled to be the grand marshals for the St. Patrick’s Parade this year, and have loved being at the kickoff of the parades for the past 20 years. We are already practicing our parade wave, so we hope everyone will come out to see the parade this year!”

The parade, in partnership with McNally’s Traditional Irish Pub, is presented by Gerald Auto Group. Gold level sponsors include McNally’s Heating and Cooling, Premier Living Properties, Onesti Entertainment and Best of the Fox and Bronze sponsors include Corcoran Commercial Real Estate, Lakeshore Recycling Systems, West Valley Graphics and Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center.