Family Friends With Mr. Parade!

Who would have thought when I ran across the headstone of "Mr. Parade" That Ed Kinney would have such a connection with a few of my family members!

As mentioned in my last post I have a relative who was a past mayor of Pleasanton as was Mr. Kinney. My relative was Warren Harding. It turns out that Warren and Ed did know each other. I inquired with another first cousin once removed and here is what she told me.

"Ed Kinney was also a friend of mine. He had the name Mr. Parade as he always narrated the Alameda County Fair Parade from the top of the Pleasanton Hotel and was the person who started the "Good Times Parade" in Pleasanton when two of the announcers on some program on TV had a bet and one was to wheel the winner in a wheelbarrow in a parade. Ed volunteered to have it in Pleasanton, it may have been the years he was Mayor. Ed was also part of our Presbyterian Church and I believe he marched with the Balloon Platoon in the parades. He was a friend of Warren's and they served on the council and also the same church. Ed was very active in the Museum on Main St. (In Pleasanton) and their lecture series is named after him. He had a great laugh and always had a funny story to tell. He had worked one time for a drug company and when asked what he did he always responded with "I sell drugs." We all miss him."

She went to to tell me that she had recently run into Ed's wife and filled me on the rest of the family and what they are doing now.

It is very interesting what my cousin told me here, it is so in sync with everything I had read about Mr. Kinney, with a couple added extras. I wasn't familiar with the Balloon Platoon so I looked into it and found this link if you are interested in knowing more!

http://www.centerpointechurch.info/connect/centerpointe-adults/enjoy/balloon-platoon/

More about "Mr. Parade"

Thanks to Terry Thornton (The Graveyard Rabbit Founder) for showing such interest in my post, "Mr. Parade" about Edward Joseph Kinney. Intrigued as he was, he researched a bit and found more information on Ed on Find a Grave. I decided to follow up on his information and found something intriguing.

Sometime after 1972 Mr. Kinney became mayor of Pleasanton! The smiley face became his political symbol. This information really sparked an interest in me as I had a relative who was also a mayor of Pleasanton! My relative was a first cousin once removed. I wonder if they knew each other? I found them both on the same list, "Community Service Award Recipients" 1964-2007. Mr. Kinney was in 1987 and my relative was listed in 1986. I will be doing more research on this! In fact as soon as I finish this post I will be emailing another relative to dig for info.

In 2004 an award was named after Ed, "The Ed Kinney Community Patriot Award". It is awarded to individuals and organizations who showed citizen and community involvement with top notch work.

A couple of years ago it looks like the Amador Livermore Historical Society did a series entitled, "The Ed Kinney Lecture Series," which in part I know was focused on the pioneers interred in Pleasanton. A day late and a dollar short. I would have loved to be a part of that series, if only they would have a repeat!

I learned the Pleasanton Hotel's balcony was dedicated in the name of Mr. Kinney. This dedication was done about three and a half years ago.

Apparently Mr. Kinney was known for making people feel comfortable and was quite the one with jokes. He was very well liked. It is no wonder the smiley face was his political symbol.

And the "Mr. Parade" on his marker? He was nicknamed that because he announced so many of parades that went through the city!

"Mr. Parade"

On one of my ventures out on a cemetery visit I hopped on over to Pleasanton Pioneer Cemetery. I have passed this cemetery many times in the last 20 years and never knew it was there. It sets on a main road going towards the outskirts of Pleasanton. There is a small driveway, which is difficult to see unless you know it is there. With brush along the side of the road for quite a stretch, you do not expect to see a cemetery entrance here. There isn't any sign of "life" in the general vicinity. Although the cemetery isn't visible from the street it is a perfect place for a cemetery. With address in hand I drove past the cemetery, missed it the first time around. Almost missed it the second time around also, however there were some maintenance trucks by the entrance and that caught my eye. The grounds crew were working on the entrance and actually had the main sign blocked so I couldn't get a good picture of it. But I found the entrance and drove up a little hill into the cemetery.I took a stroll through the grounds and knew it had been through some changes. It was a nice, warm, pretty day in California but the cemetery struck me as old and sad. Sad simply because it was a cemetery and seemed so lonely. But more on the cemetery at a later date, for now I want to share a specific headstone. Carrying the feeling of real sadness as I was walking through, I happened to cross this headstone, and it gave me such a smile!"Mr. Parade!" Edward Joseph Kinney, December 1, 1937 ~ April 29, 2005. And a smiley face! I think this man was a very happy person. But what convinced me all the more was when I looked at the back side of the headstone and saw this...I am sure "Smilin' Ed" brought much happiness to those who knew him. Even after his passing he brought a smile to at least one strangers face, mine.