Robert (Bob) Hoover

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich., Feb. 11, 2008 – The Red Flannel Festival recently named Keystone Kop Robert (Bob) Hoover, of Howard City, as the 2009 Grand Marshal for the 70th Annual Celebration, to be held on Saturday, October 3, 2009. 

“The Festival Board is extremely proud of the many years of outstanding dedication by Bob Hoover,“ said Michele Tracy Andres, President of the Festival. “His fabulous dedication to the Red Flannel Festival is very impressive and just what we look for in a Red Flannel Grand Marshal. It’s very obvious Bob loves Cedar Springs and the Red Flannel Festival!“

Hoover is celebrating his 40th year as a Red Flannel Festival Keystone Kop, first joining the “force“ in 1969. “That length of service is truly amazing, and we can’t imagine a Red Flannel Festival without Bob in the antique fire truck,“ said Andres.

Hoover graduated from Sparta High School, and later moved to the Cedar Springs area, where he lived for 30 years, before moving to Howard City. He used to coach rocket football here, and it was while he lived here that he became involved with the Keystone Kops. “I was in town talking to some of the guys and they said I should try it, and so I did,“ he said.

Hoover hasn’t regretted it. “We have a lot of fun, and most of the people usually go along with us,“ he remarked. “I’ve enjoyed working with all the guys that have been Keystones and are currently Keystones.“

He was excited to find out he had been named Grand Marshal, something he never thought would happen. “It’s a great honor,“ he noted.

To donate to the Red Flannel Festival, an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 organization, view the Festival’s website or mail to RFF, PO Box 43, Cedar Springs, MI 49319.

Used with Permission from Mike Taylor, Advanced Newspapers