Rose Parade 2006 Order (26-50)

From our special online coverage of Rose Parade 2006.

Wells Fargo (#26)

Wells Fargo heritage goes back to the birth of California statehood. The first Pasadena office opened in April 1885 on Fair Oaks Avenue. Historically Wells Fargo used a variety of horses: quarterhorses, wild mustangs and sometimes mules. Fancier teams were generally used in larger towns. The stagecoach driver was often formally dressed in a suit and tie, a vest and sometimes a bowler hat. Today the costumes are less formal and include a western-style hat and leather boots.

In the 1800s, Wells Fargo used Abbot Downing stagecoaches built in Concord, N.H. The Wells Fargo stagecoaches being used in the Rose Parade are historically accurate reproductions built by Doug Hansen of Letcher, S.D. Preserving its legacy of dependable stagecoach drivers, quick-thinking messengers and brightly-painted Concords drawn by matched teams, Wells Fargo sends its famous stagecoaches to community events throughout the country.

Marshal: Doug Murphey

Rose Bowl Game Participating University Float - University of Southern California (#27)
Float Theme: Big Ten

Representing one of the Rose Bowl football teams, the USC Trojans float depicts a gigantic flying football. The football is made of flaxseed and the "tail pulls" that make it appear to be flying are created with millet seeds. Four urns of red roses flank the football, which sits amidst a garden of gerbera daisies. The school sign features red mums with golden strawflower trim. Riding on the float are the USC Trojan cheerleaders.

Band: University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band (#28)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.

In 1880 at a fledgling University of Southern California, a group of musicians first came together to form what would become the Trojan Marching Band. Now the largest spirit organization on campus, the band has developed into one of the most exciting and innovative collegiate marching bands in the country. Featuring 300 students from nearly every major at USC, the band is a prominent and visible representative of the university with over 400 engagements each year.

Led by Director Arthur C. Bartner and Assistant Director Tony Fox, this is the band's 30th appearance in the Rose Parade. The band includes three leaders, one drum major, 120 brass, 40 percussion, 105 woodwinds and 18 color guard. Trojan band members wear their trademark sunglasses night or day. The band is complemented by the USC Silks, its tall flags.

City of Newport Beach (#29)
Float Theme: Sailing Through a Century

"Sailing Through a Century" celebrates the Centennial of Newport Beach—the city's 100th birthday in 2006. Three ships represent the past century of travel, commerce and recreation in this harbor community. The old, tall sailing ship reveals the ornately carved Lady of America figurehead flanked by a classic 1939 Barrel Back motorboat and a modern-day sailboat. Two shimmering dolphins frolic in floral ocean waves, cresting on sea turtles, shells and starfish. An oversized sculptured clam shell opens to display a rare and precious pearl, which represents Newport Beach as the magical treasure of Southern California. Sea gulls, pelicans and the community mascot, Rupert the black swan, signify the importance of animal life and environmental protection to Newport Beach.

The tall ship is crafted in chrysanthemums with strawflower accents, the Barrel Back hull in magnolia leaves and malaluca bark, and the sailboat in coconut flakes and orange marigold petals. Shimmering silver leaf protea covers the dolphins, while the sea turtles are made of mung and split pea beans. The black swan is decorated with chive and onion seeds.

Grand Marshal Sandra Day O'Connor (#30)

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor leads the nation's grandest New Year's celebration, sharing the pageantry of flower-filled floats, equestrian units and marching bands with the 117th Rose Parade viewers. She will also kick off the 92nd Rose Bowl Game festivities on January 4, 2006, with a coin toss. At the announcement ceremony in October, Justice O'Connor remarked: "I cannot think of a more exciting way to begin the next chapter in my life than by riding down Colorado Boulevard as grand marshal of the 2006 Tournament of Roses. "When I was a little girl, my parents and I traveled several times to the Rose Parade all the way from our ranch in Arizona just to see the majestic floats. The experience was indeed magical and I have kept it with me. I'm looking forward to sharing this parade with my grandchildren."

Justice O'Connor is accompanied by her husband John and grandchildren Courtney, Adam, Keely and Weston. They are riding in a 1934 Packard Super 8 Seven-Passenger Model 1104 Phaeton owned by Mark and Patricia Beythoun. FTD florists beautifully adorned the classic vehicle for the grand marshal and her family.
American Honda (#31)
Float Theme: The Power of Dreams

Let freedom ring! American Honda offers a collection of the strongest patriotic symbols of the U.S.A.—the Statue of Liberty, the American flag and soaring bald eagles. Lady Liberty rises to 50 feet above the parade route, her glowing torch bringing the message of the American dream to parade viewers around the world; the Stars & Stripes wave magnificently, unfurling to the float's inspiring 100-foot length, as a pair of proud eagles lift the country's banner. A blue sea washes over the statue base as a bed of red roses supports an inspiring galaxy of white roses.

The Statue of Liberty stands proudly in a cloak of eucalyptus leaves. The flowing American flag is created with red carnations, white carnations and blue irises. The base of the float is covered with roses, carnations, gerbera daisies and irises. American Honda has been in the Rose Parade 30 times, capturing major parade awards 10 out of the last 11 years. American Honda provides the Tournament of Roses with motor scooters, automobiles and vans.

Band: Fayetteville High School Marching Bulldog Band (#32)
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Fayetteville High School is located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in the northwest corner of Arkansas. The Fayetteville High School Band, under the direction of Barry Harper, has established a reputation for excellence in music education throughout Arkansas. The Fayetteville Colorguard adds to the band's visual effect with the use of flags, sabers, rifles and props. Colorguard members also play instruments and are part of the concert bands.

Over the past 11 years, the band has grown from 58 to 220 members. This is the Bulldog Band's first time in the Rose Parade. Sarah Mower, who is the Flag Section Leader, will be the second in her family to march in the Rose Parade. Her father, Nelson Mower, marched with his high school band from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1970s.

City of West Covina (#33)
Float Theme: Midnight Magic

The West Covina float brings a magically romantic air to the Rose Parade with its portrayal of the story of Cinderella. The fantasy of romance and the magic of midnight are shown with an ornate carriage traveling along a country road. The royal carriage carries Princess Cinderella and friends looking for her Prince Charming.

Yellow strawflower, clover seed, rice, macaroon coconut, sesame seed, raspberry seed and poppy seed combine to create the details on this float. Ten thousand roses, thousands of carnations, irises, dendrobium orchids, gerbera daisies and mums are the featured flowers on the float. Poke-through carnations create beautiful swirls of color that surround the float and floral clusters and vines cover the stylized tree.

Band: Banda de Musica de La Escuela Secundaria 22 (#34)
Location: San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora

Teacher Jose Ines Frank Diaz founded Banda de Musica de La Escuela Secundaria in 1953. Beginning with 23 students, the band received the wholehearted support of the community, led by the governors of the time, who donated musical instruments. San Luis Rio Colorado is located in northeast Mexico in one of the largest deserts in the world.

Originally, the band played traditional, conservative waltzes and filled each melody with an energy that moved the people who heard them. Today, Professor Martín Peralta León, the band director, arranges all of the songs. The Latin rhythms are arranged for more current tastes and have a more festive or "huapachosa" (lively and rhythmic) spin on the traditional music. The band is involved deeply in its community and plays for numerous festivities throughout the year. The school's nickname is "Nuestros Ángeles de Sonora," which translates to "Our Angels of Sonora."

Rain Bird Corporation (#35)
Float Theme: Mist-ical Marsupials

Designed by the award-winning float designer, Raul Rodriguez, Rain Bird's 10th anniversary Rose Parade float captures a magical moment of a koala family in their natural habitat in an Australian eucalyptus forest. A mother koala and her joeys are shrouded by an abundance of protea, banksia, water lilies and orchids that overflow from tree branches to adorn the forest floor, which is covered in 50,000 hot pink roses. Ten waterfalls (one for each year of parade participation) cascade down plush, moss-covered walls.

Featured native Australian fauna include two sculpted white sulfur-crested cockatoos, a frilled lizard, colorful dragonflies and a crocodile basking in a fresh-water lagoon. Magnificent floral displays created from indigenous Australian materials include numerous new hybrid varieties featured for the first time in the Rose Parade, such as koala banksia (Baueri Banksia). Brilliant red Gymea lilies, which grow to a towering height of over 20 feet, are also highlighted. Riding on the float are Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and renowned animal expert, and Walter C. Crawford Jr., Founder and Director, World Bird Sanctuary.
Broken Horn Ropers (#36)

Riding nine paint, sorrel and pinto quarterhorses, the Broken Horn Ropers are a culturally diverse, multigenerational team. Marshal Felix Lopez is recognized as one of the greatest trick ropers, having won world titles in trick roping in the U.S. and Mexico. Lopez and his team members perform fancy rope tricks such as the Flat Loop, the Umbrella, the Texas Skip and the Lighting Bolt.

Together for seven years, the team has won many first-place awards for Novelty Mounted Equestrian Team. The ropers wear black western shirts embroidered with red and white roses and crystal rhinestones, black cowboy hats, and black belts with handmade, custom silver buckles designed for this parade. Their Western pleasure show saddles were handmade and hand-tooled with delicately placed saddle silver. Coordinated head stalls, reigns, bits and spurs used by the riders are sterling silver.

Marshal: Felix A. Lopez

City of Ontario, California (#37)
Float Theme: Gateway to California Magic

Ontario's "Gateway to California Magic" is reminiscent of life in this lively community at the turn of the century. The Union Pacific train depicted on the float is a 4-4-0 Americana, used extensively throughout the United States in 1891, when the City of Ontario was incorporated. Laden with freshly picked citrus from Ontario groves, the steamer travels to faraway markets. The open-air farmers market overflows with an abundance of succulent oranges, lemons and grapes to welcome visitors to Southern California. Graceful palm trees, fragrant orange trees and blooming yuccas—botanical symbols of Southern California—frame the lush, vintage gardens.

Black seaweed, clover seed and strawflower create the floral replica of the steam locomotive. Patriotic bunting of red and white carnations and blue sinuata statice adorns the train. Miracle, Sensation, Queensday, Aalsmeer and Gold Strike roses surround majestic palm trees embellished with yellow and green dendrobium orchids. Ontario's 2005, 2004 and 2003 floats won the Governor's Trophy for best depiction of life in California.

Mayor of Pasadena (#38)

Proudly representing the City of Pasadena in the 2006 Rose Parade, Mayor Bill Bogaard and his wife, Claire, are accompanied by Pasadena Council members' sons and daughters: Nicholas, Alexander, Austin and Mariah Holden; Noah White; Cameron and Courtney Little; Jennifer and Kathryn Haderlein; and Steven, Jr. and Julian Madison. The group is riding down Colorado Boulevard in a 1948 Mack Fire Engine owned and driven by retired firefighter Joe Ortiz, director of the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum.

Rose Bowl Game Participating University Float - Texas (#39)
Float Theme: PAC Ten

Representing the other Rose Bowl football team, the Texas Longhorns float features a huge football made of flaxseed with white ribbons of mums, button mums and coconut. The school sign shows the Texas letters in dried marigolds and orange strawflowers against a backdrop of white mums; the sign is trimmed in galix leaves. Near the football are two large floral arrangements of vivid orange roses and a garden of gerbera daisies. The University of Texas cheerleaders are riding on the Texas float.

Band: Rose Bowl Game Participating University Band - University of Texas Longhorn Band (#40)
Location: Austin, Texas

Known as the Showband of the Southwest, the Texas Longhorn Band is recognized as one of the best collegiate bands in the nation. It served as the lead band at President George Bush's Inaugural Parade, has enjoyed performances with Clay Walker and Willie Nelson, has been featured on CBS This Morning and has performed at many NFL games. During the spring, the Longhorn Band divides into several ensembles including three concert bands, two jazz ensembles and the Longhorn Basketball Band. Founded in 1900, the Longhorn Band is a year-round program offered as a course by the School of Music at The University of Texas. The band is directed by Dr. Robert Carnochan.
Kiwanis International (#41)
Float Theme: The Magic of Reading

"The Magic of Reading" opens a world of possibilities and imagination to youngsters and Rose Parade viewers. The pages of a gigantic book at the front of the float flip open and images of captivating nature stories, wild adventures, medieval times, fairy tales and the high seas come to life on this literary entry from Kiwanis International.

The pages of the book feature sweet rice with a vivid selection of dry materials used to create the book's illustrations. Butterflies flutter over the roses, irises, daisies and orchids that fill the garden beneath the books. Kiwanis was honored with the Volunteers Award for its 2005 parade entry.

Banuelos Charro Team (#42)

The Banuelos Charro Team began in 1995 when it joined the Association of Charros in Southern California. The team participates in competitions around Southern California and has performed in the Hollywood Christmas Parade, East LA Parade and Route 66 Parade. They have also volunteered with LA County Parks and Recreation and were part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

When they're not competing, they like to give back to the community and take their horses to elementary schools and nonprofit organizations that care for children. The children really enjoy the performance and get a chance to ride a horse and have their pictures taken on the horses. The mission of the team is to promote the Mexican Charreria, a festive event that incorporates equestrian competitions, and to educate children on the foundation of respect for themselves, their elders and animals.

Marshal: Ramon Banuelos

La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association (#43)
Float Theme: The Great Howldini

The La Cañada Flintridge continues its tradition of producing humorous animated floats with its 2006 entry, "The Great Howldini." The float features several magic tricks starring a dog pulling a rabbit from a hat. In addition to the rabbit, a shell game is magically played, cards twirl and dog bones levitate. The La Cañada Flintridge float is one of only six self-built floats in the parade that is designed and built with all volunteer labor.

This float features a carpet of roses and numerous floral displays to accent the humor and animation. The dog is wearing a jacket of red carnations with a black lentil bowtie. His fur is made from multiple shades of pampas grass. The rabbit is fashioned from white chrysanthemums and pink gladiola petals. The float incorporates 10,000 roses, 15,000 carnations and 20,000 chrysanthemums.

Band: Mercer Island High School Marching Band (#44)
Location: Mercer Island, Washington

Mercer Island is located seven miles from downtown Seattle, in the middle of beautiful Lake Washington. The Mercer Island High School Marching Band commissioned a piece by Emmy-award-winning film composer Hummie Mann. This will be the band's second Rose Parade appearance.

Mercer Island High School was identified as a Grammy Signature School for Excellence in 1999 and 2003. One of every five students is involved in the proudly noncompetitive band program. Director Parker Bixby and co-director Peter Haberman lead the 270-member band, which includes three drum majors, 100 brass, 22 percussion, 153 woodwinds and two banner carriers.

Donate Life (#45)
Float Theme: Life Transformed

A life touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation is a "Life Transformed." Through their personal trials and triumphs, each of the Donate Life float riders has undergone a physical, emotional and spiritual transformation that reaches beyond them to their families and communities. Donate Life presents 23 float riders from across the country surrounded by new life that has sprung forth from the shelter of a fallen tree: birds, butterflies, a caterpillar and flowers cascading from the tree trunk. The float riders—living organ donors, family members of organ and tissue donors, and transplant recipients—together represent the countless lives that have been saved and strengthened through donation. The Family Circle Garden at the front of the float features hundreds of roses in water-filled vials, each tagged with the name of an organ/tissue donor, transplant recipient or person on the waiting list.

The float is decorated by hundreds of donor family members celebrating their loved ones and transplant recipients honoring their organ donors. The logos on each side are presented in both English and Spanish ("Done Vida")—a first in the 117-year history of the Tournament of Roses.
Band: Hoover High School Band (#46)
Location: Hoover, Alabama

This is the first Rose Parade appearance for the award-winning Hoover Marching Band. The Hoover Band has an extensive history of participation in events around the United States and Europe. In the past five years, the band has participated in the Easter Parade in Maastricht, the Netherlands, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, the All American Music Festival in Orlando, the Easter Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Performances at Sea with a Carnival cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. The Hoover Band has performed for presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.

The tradition of the Hoover High School Band dates back more than 30 years. Over these three decades, the marching band has consistently rated superior in competitions. Harry L. McAfee directs the 220 members, which include a color guard, a dance line and a feature twirler.

Disney Parks (#47)
Float Theme: The Most Magical Celebration on Earth

Celebrating 50 years of Disney theme park magic, Disney Parks around the world continue the fun and excitement of their global "Happiest Celebration on Earth" throughout 2006. The Disney float entry is highlighted by a floral depiction of five beloved Disney castles as seen in California, Florida, Japan, France and Hong Kong. Soaring nearly 50 feet high and 150 feet long (the longest Rose Parade entry this year), the float features the U.S. premiere of the newest Disney song "One," written exclusively for the recent grand opening of Hong Kong Disneyland.

The float is composed of more than 50 distinct varieties of roses with plant materials from each of the Disney theme park host countries and states. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in southern California stands prominently in the float design as the original Disney symbol of magic and happily-ever-afters.

Martinez Family (#48)

The riders wear authentic charro-style suits, something like Emiliano Zapata wore in the days of the Revolution, dating back to the early 1800s. Horses are outfitted with authentic Mexican handmade charro saddles made of leather and sometimes cattle bone. The 16 mixed breed horses are bred from the wild horses of the United States.

The Martinez family performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch in 2003 and the 2003 Festival of the American West in Wellsville, Utah. This is their 26th year in the Rose Parade.

Marshal: Benny Martinez

New Mexico, USA (#49)
Float Theme: Land of Enchantment

The State of New Mexico celebrates its cultural roots and rich heritage with its inaugural Rose Parade float. Set amid the gentle curves of historical adobe architecture, a floral collage of New Mexico's history and landscape comes magically alive in color, texture and sound. At the front of the plaza, a horse-drawn buckboard tells the story of adventurous cowboys, railroads and the Santa Fe Trail. In the center courtyard, passionate Hispanic flamenco music is performed and danced. Flanking the plaza, Native American artisans display their hand-woven baskets, jewelry, art and pottery.

The state's diverse scenery—from the high-desert and chaparral country in the south to the alpine mountain forests in the north—provides a profusion of native botanicals from indigenous pines to yucca blossoms, the state flower. Governor Bill Richardson (who was born in Pasadena) and his wife, Barbara, ride the float along with Native American artists, flamenco dancers, a Buffalo soldier and Smokey Bear.

Band: Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets (#50)
Location: Pasadena, California

The Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets have participated in the Rose Parade for many years. They traditionally precede the Queen's float, heralding the Rose Queen and her court throughout the parade. The Herald Trumpets have performed for various events this past year including the announcement of the Royal Court, the announcement of the Rose Queen, the Pasadena Jaycee's Queen's breakfast, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Bandfest and a special concert for the Good Sam Club at their "Rose Parade Jamboree" at Disneyland.

The Herald Trumpets are selected from the finest players of the Pasadena City College Marching Band and Pasadena Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Directed by Kevin Brown, the nine trumpeters are accompanied by a drummer.