Ingram, McNeal Named Grand Marshals For West Alabama Christmas Parade

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) on Monday announced that former University of Alabama Athletic Director Cecil W. “Hootie” Ingram and former Crimson Tide football standout Kareem McNeal will be the grand marshals for the 47th annual West Alabama Christmas Parade.

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PARA says the parade is the largest of its kind in Alabama and is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 4, in downtown Tuscaloosa. A tree lighting on the steps of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse will start at 5:15 p.m., which will be followed by the parade at 6:30 p.m.

Parade spokesperson Heather Shipley said the Grand Marshal Selection Committee was comprised of community leaders who reviewed the nominations.

Ingram — a three-sport standout at Tuscaloosa High School and then a two-sport star at The University of Alabama — earned three letters each in football and baseball, while also being selected as an All-SEC defensive back in 1952

Ingram then went on to enter the coaching ranks at the high school and college levels, with stops at Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia, and Arkansas. He then became head coach at Clemson from 1970 to 1971, where he introduced the school's iconic tiger paw logo.

From there, Ingram became an administrator and was hired as athletic director at Florida State University, where he served from 1981-1989. He then returned home to the University of Alabama from 1989-1995 and is credited with hiring Gene Stallings as Alabama’s football coach.

Ingram turned 90 years old in September and reportedly remains active in his church and enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren, who are all graduates of The University of Alabama.

Kareem McNeal, a former University of Alabama football player, played as an offensive tackle for coach Gene Stallings.

Just prior to his senior year in 1995, McNeal was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

McNeal is a husband a father of four children — two sets of twins — and works as a full-time faculty member in UA’s College of Human Environmental Sciences.

McNeal graduated from UA with a Bachelor of Science degree in human performance in 1996 and earned his master’s in health education in 1999.

Stallings also encouraged McNeal to work as a graduate assistant at Tuscaloosa’s Rise School, before he set out on a two-decade career as a wellness instructor at Shelton State Community College

McNeal returned to his alma mater in 2021 as a teacher and advisor in UA’s College of HES and has taught courses such as stress management.

Holding a passion for cooking, McNeal has also made a name for himself thanks to his beloved cheesecakes, which can be found on the menu of local Tuscaloosa establishments such as River and Cravings in downtown Tuscaloosa.

PARA says the 2023 parade theme is “A Hometown Christmas.”

What's more, the deadline for participants — bands, vehicles, floats, horses, or walking groups — to register is Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.

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