Photo by Carol Toler
The Fourth of July parade hosted by Exchange Club volunteers drew big crowds once again as Lake Highlands joined the entire country in celebrating America’s 250th birthday. In addition to bicycles and floats festooned with patriotic gear, the parade featured neighborhood resident and Fox 4 traffic guru Chip Waggoner as grand marshal.
“We love this area,” Waggoner said as wife Wendy and son Benjamin prepared to load up into the honorary convertible. “We have raised our kids in this community, and it’s great every time I have a chance to give back in any way, shape or form, whether it’s announcing the basketball games or football games, working as a VIP (volunteer in patrol), whatever it is — I just love that whole sense of community that you get here in Lake Highlands. To get this honor to be a part of the July 4th parade is just icing on the cake.”
Waggoner realizes a few folks know him as their go-to guy on the morning news, sharing warnings about traffic pileups or construction delays. Others know him as The Voice of Lake Highlands, providing information over the loudspeaker at Wildcat athletic events. The parade gave those people a chance to get up close and personal — and vice versa.
“I’m pretty approachable,” he said. “I always told my wife that if I’m not the same one-on-one that I am on the air, to just go ahead and beat me up. I want to be authentic. I want to be just me.”
Waggoner covers the entire metroplex for Fox 4, and he attends public outreach events at locations far and wide. Staying just a few blocks from home on a holiday weekend felt like a big win.
“It’s like having a home game versus a road game,” he laughed. “I love doing things in every other part of the area when I’m invited — no question about it — but there is something extra special about this place and this group of people.”
You may view my photos here.
Photo by Carol Toler
Girl Scouts remembered Wynne Naylor on the fourth.
Photo by Carol Toler
