Grand Marshal For Morris Co. St. Patrick's Parade Is From Mendham

MENDHAM, NJ — It's never too early to start planning for the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade, one of the county's most anticipated events, and this year's parade will be led by a Mendham resident.

Ryan Dawson, a Mendham Township resident, has been chosen as this year's grand marshal for the annual parade by the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

"Ryan has been an integral member of the parade committee and the finance committee, assisting in raising money for the parade as Finance Committee Chairman," said Mike Leavy, Publicity Coordinator, St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Morris County.

Dawson, who lives in Mendham Township with his wife Melinda and their cherished rescue dogs and cats, was born in Morristown and grew up in Boonton.

According to his grand marshal profile, Dawson is a member and former president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County and served previously as co-president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Morris County from 2016 through 2018 and finance committee chair for over ten years.

Dawson also currently works as a realtor for Weichert Realtors in Morristown, Leavy said.

The 2023 Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place in Morristown on Saturday, Mar. 11, at 12 p.m. Since 1979, the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade has been the largest in New Jersey, with over 20 bands and over 4,000 marchers.

Dawson says the committee’s proudest successes during the last several years included increasing the number of large corporate sponsors, rolling out the new Parade Patron program, and organizing several "Thank You" parades and food drives during COVID-19 to support the staff of Morristown Medical Center.

The Parade Patrons are a dedicated group of people who support the Parade’s principles, traditions, and charitable giving. The parade has been able to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities due in part to the efforts of what Ryan calls a "well-oiled machine" of volunteers.

In addition to his work with the Irish Community, Dawson is a trustee of the Morristown Partnership, treasurer of the Center for the Study of Small Towns and Cities in Boonton, vice president of technology and communications for the Washington Association of New Jersey, and vice president of The Morristown Club.

The Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade has been a long-cherished tradition for all residents, dating back to the winter of 1779-1780 in Jockey Hollow, Morristown.

The parade is entirely self-funded, with no public funds used for parade expenses. It is entirely funded by generous donations from corporate and individual sponsors, so there is no public money involved and no cost to taxpayers, officials said.

To learn more about Dawson and the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, click here.