4/1 Cavalry & Haywood Jeffires To Serve As Grand Marshals For
The 71st Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade

EL PASO, Texas (November 16, 2007) - Former NFL All-Pro Haywood Jeffires and members of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division have been selected to serve as the 2007 Grand Marshals for the 71st annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade.

"We are honored to have both Haywood Jeffires and the 4/1 Cavalry to serve as this year's grand marshals," said Bernie Olivas, Sun Bowl Association executive director. "This is a way for us to honor an NFL great like Haywood and also honor the service of our men in uniform and especially those from Fort Bliss. The members of the 4/1 Cavalry have done a lot for this nation and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts."

The FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is slated for Thursday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. on Montana Avenue between Ochoa and Copia Streets. Over the last three years, more than one million fans have lined the streets to see El Paso's largest attended event.

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division will be represented by three soldiers at the parade - Sgt. Andrew Shope, Spc. Michael Holguin and Staff Sgt. Robert Reuse. These Soldiers arrived in El Paso on Nov. 12 as part of initial 100 Soldiers from the unit to return from Iraq. The remaining Soldiers are expected to return in December.

"There could not have been a better choice for grand marshal than the members of the 4/1 Cavalry," said Linda East, Sun Bowl Association president. "We have honored individuals before, but never an entire unit like this. In saying that, there has never been a more deserving unit to serve as grand marshal as those in the 4/1 Cavalry."

The approximate 4,000 Soldiers in the 4/1 Cavalry served in Northern Iraq, primarily in the Mosul and Bagdad areas, performing a full spectrum of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 4th BCT is a heavy maneuver brigade which consists of three cavalry regiments, a field artillery battalion and two support units. The support units contain a military intelligence company, a signal company, military police officers, medics, a headquarters company and nearly every asset needed to successfully fight and win wars.

Jeffires becomes the 12th sports figure to serve as Grand Marshal of the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, joining a group that includes sports icons Don Haskins, Bobby Dobbs, Ron Capps, Lee Trevino, Mickey Mantle and Don Maynard.

"I think a lot of fans will remember Haywood Jeffires from his days as a Houston Oiler," said Linda East, president of the Sun Bowl Association. "He had an outstanding career and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection."

Jeffires, who played for 10 NFL seasons with the Houston and New Orleans, was selected in the first round (20th overall) by the Oilers in 1987. He played collegiately at North Carolina State, where he established school records for career catches (111) and touchdowns (14) from 1983-86.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Jeffires led the AFC in receptions in 1991 with 100 catches. For his career, he pulled in 535 receptions for 6,334 yards and 50 touchdowns. He also collected 41 career post-season receptions for 513 yards and three touchdowns.

He played for nine of his 10 seasons with the Oilers, along side Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. During the "Run & Shoot" era in Houston, Jeffires caught 60 or more passes for six straight seasons (1990-95). He led the league in catches in 1991 and finished third in 1992. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Jeffires is currently coaching the Bay Area Pearland Gamblers, a minor league football team in Pearland.

The Haywood Jeffires' Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps to serve at-risk kids, kids with disabilities and young men and women of low income communities.  He also serves as an ambassador for the Houston Texans.

Jeffires will be at the FirstLight Federal Credit Union branch at 9993 Kenworthy in El Paso from 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Jeffires will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans the day before the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade. Bring a can of food to the autograph session to help support the Sun Bowl Food Drive.

The 70th FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is Thursday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. The parade runs along Montana Avenue beginning at Ochoa Street and ending at Copia Street. Review Stand tickets for the parade can be purchased at any FirstLight Federal Credit Union branch office, Circle K store locations or at the Sun Bowl Association office. This year's parade theme is "Childhood Memories."