The Grogan surname is well-known both in the Sioux Falls Irish community and the city at large. The Grogan family has been part of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade since its earliest days and has a long history of leadership in the event. So it’s no surprise that Kelly Grogan has been named this year’s grand marshal of the Sioux Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Grogan, a longtime firefighter with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue before retiring in 2014, is the third in his family to receive the honor of being grand marshal, following his mother, Cleopha Grogan, in 2001 and older brother Hugh Grogan in 2019. Growing up, he said his mother instilled the importance of the parade in the entire family.
“Mom was the one that kept us on the straight and narrow and made sure we knew it was our responsibility to be part of the parade,” Grogan said. “It was important to follow our ancestry and family history and to keep that Irish pride.”
The 46th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday, March 14, in downtown Sioux Falls. In the spirit of founder Sylvia Henkin, it is often called “the People’s Parade,” meaning it is free and open to the public. Anyone can enter a float or walk in the parade as long as they are registered or part of a registered group and wear an official St. Patrick’s Day Parade button…